Shahid Afridi will lead the Twenty20 team while Misbah-ul-Haq was retained as Test captain.
Akmal, who was ruled out of Pakistan’s recent series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates after surgery for appendicitis, has been at the centre of match-fixing allegations.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) reportedly issued notice to him regarding Pakistan’s controversial defeat against Australia in the Sydney Test in January.
But there were reports in the media suggesting Akmal, 28, had contacted the ICC regarding his selection and was told that he was cleared for selection.
Yousuf, 36, had to return home after the recurrence of a groin injury earlier this month and although he too was featuring in the domestic matches, selectors have left him out of the squad.
Also dropped was former captain Shoaib Malik, who had been omitted for the series against South Africa after performing poorly on the tour of England.
Also missing from the Test team was leg-spinner Danish Kaneria despite being cleared of spot-fixing charges in England.
Kaneria, 29, was initially included in the team for the two Tests against South Africa but was stopped from travelling to United Arab Emirates by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Chief selector Mohsin Khan said the team was announced only after the PCB’s clearance had been issued.
“After the clearance by PCB, the selection committee has selected the best available combination of seniors and youngsters,” said Khan, without naming anyone.
“The upcoming tour of New Zealand is extremely important for us as it will help in preparations for the World Cup,” Khan said.
“PCB did not clear the names of Kamran and Malik, while Yousuf was dropped on fitness ground,” Khan told AFP.
“New Zealand team will be very difficult to beat on their home ground, but our team has recently shown great qualities of fight back and we hope it will settle down in near future,” he said.
Pakistan plays three Twenty20 matches, two Tests and six one-day internationals. A separate squad for the one-day matches will be announced later.
Twenty20 squad:
Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shahzad, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, Tanveer Ahmed, Sohail Tanveer, Wahab Riaz (subject to fitness).
Test squad:
Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umer, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Umar Gul, Tanveer Ahmed, Sohail Tanveer, Wahab Riaz.
A statement from the ICC concluded there was “no compelling evidence to suspect individual players or support staff” following an investigation into scoring patterns of the match at the Oval on September 17.
“The investigation is now complete but if new and corroborating evidence comes to light then clearly the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit will re-open the matter,” the statement said.
The investigation was separate from allegations of corruption levelled against Pakistan during the scandal-tainted Test series with England, which led to three players being suspended indefinitely.
The ICC last month announced it was probing an investigation into a “certain scoring pattern” that emerged during Pakistan’s win over England at the Oval, later confirming England’s players were not involved in the probe.
It followed a report by The Sun newspaper, which claimed to have been made aware of details of Pakistan’s innings before the match had got under way.
The paper tipped off cricket authorities, who then watched as the scoring patterns in two suspect overs emerged as predicted, The Sun report said. The overall result of the match was not believed to be fixed, the report added.
According to The Sun, the allegations emerged after the paper was notified of calls between a Dubai-based match-fixer and a New Delhi bookmaker.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt relieved Yawar Saeed of his duties at Saeed’s own request, the board said.
The 75-year-old Saeed had hinted about stepping down before the tour began in June and denied that his decision to go was connected to the allegations that marred the team’s tour of England.
The allegations surfaced after British newspaper News of the World claimed that alleged bookie Mazhar Majeed paid several Pakistani players to deliberately bowl no-balls during last month’s Lord’s Test against England.
Scotland Yard raided the team’s hotel in London, and interrogated Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir and Wahab Riaz.
So far no charges have been brought against Pakistani players.
The International Cricket Council has provisionally suspended Salman, Asif and Aamir.
“I had requested the PCB chairman to relieve me of the duties before the England tour... nor it is linked to the tour of England,” Saeed told reporters.
Saeed is the son of Mian Mohammad Saeed, who led Pakistan in their first unofficial Test in 1948, and brother-in-law to the late fast bowler Fazal Mahmood.
Pakistan’s next assignment is a neutral venue series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates, starting next month.
Saeed is likely to be replaced by Shafqat Rana, assistant manager on the England tour.
Pakistan will play two Twenty20 internationals against Australia on July 5 and 6 before playing two Tests against the same opponents.
After playing Australia, Pakistan will feature in four Tests, two Twenty20 and five one-day games against England. The tour ends on September 22.
The squad for the one-dayers against England will be announced later.
The notable inclusion in the test side is that of Yasir Hameed brought in to replace former captain Younis Khan.
The 32-year-old Hameed has played 23 tests, but his last came against India in Dec. 2007.
The selectors opted against bringing the experienced Younis back into the squad for the twin test series, even though the Pakistan Cricket Board earlier this month lifted his indefinite ban.
Squad: (Twenty20): Shahid Afridi (capt), Salman Butt (vice capt), Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Amir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam
Squad: (Tests): Shahid Afridi (capt), Salman Butt (vice capt), Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Azhar Ali, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Zulqarnain Haider, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Tanveer Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Danish Kaneria
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