The surprise is the lack of surprise

There were two surprising features in the announcement of the 14-man Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup. One was the timing - it came a day earlier than everybody expected. The other surprise was ... that there weren't any surprises.

Ever since Inzamam-ul-Haq became Pakistan's captain in October last year, he has insisted that continuity of selection is essential for the growth and evolution of the team. With four one-day series behind him now, that continuity - if not always the results - is beginning to seep through.

The probable XI for the first match of the Asia Cup is unlikely to differ greatly from the team that lost to India in the fifth one-dayer of the recent series at Lahore. Barring injury, the only possible changes will be the return of Imran Farhat or Imran Nazir, in place of Taufeeq Umar, who continues to be viewed as a Test batsman only. Danish Kaneria may get a look-in, depending on the pitch and the opponent.

And there will be, in all likelihood, little alteration from the side that came within four runs of beating New Zealand at Wellington in January earlier this year. Azhar Mahmood, who played that day, has not been considered; Younis Khan is now back bolstering the middle order. Furthermore, the side that lost the final match to South Africa at home in October still bears a striking resemblance to the side that will turn out against Bangladesh on July 17 - Mohammad Hafeez misses out this time, although even he was in the list of probables.

It means that there are eight or nine positions in the one-day side that pick themselves. Sure, we can quibble about which of the two Imrans - the increasingly impressive Farhat or the talented but inconsistent Nazir - should partner Yasir Hameed. We could talk ourselves hoarse about whether playing both Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq upsets the balance of the team. Does it leave the team a specialist batsman and, more importantly, a specialist bowler short and could one of them be sacrificed for the wicket-taking alternative that Kaneria provides?

Three losing series suggests the problem is not yet resolved - but importantly, none of them has been dumped. They are still in the squad, thus giving the team management every opportunity to see what formation suits the team best and how the conundrum can be tackled.

Even Naveed-ul-Hasan has been retained. He showed so much heart in coming back to pick up three wickets against India on that memorable sun-drenched Karachi afternoon in March, but didn't play thereafter. Under former regimes, he might have been put out to pasture.

It might not sound much, but for Pakistan to go through almost ten months and 20 matches of a hectic international season (including a potentially confidence-shattering series loss to India) and still retain, by and large, the same squad they began with is astonishing. That it has been done while the PCB chairman, chief selector and coach have all changed qualifies it as a miracle.

Almost unnoticed, a clear and tangible shape to the team is emerging. From within it may galvanise the core of a consistent team, into one that is capable of becoming among the best in the world. But of course, it may not, and for this reason Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana's insistence on a central-contract system should be applauded. It is the natural desire of two senior players who want to see this stability continue; captain and vice-captain clearly believe this group of players can serve Pakistan in the long term, and thus deserve long-term financial security.

It still isn't clear what this team is capable of achieving; there have been glimpses and glimmers against India, New Zealand and South Africa. There has also been enough evidence to suggest that the balance of the team can occasionally be dangerously awry. But at least it is being given the best possible chance to prove, one way or another, what it is capable of. And that comes as the most pleasant of surprises.

The squad
Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Imran Nazir, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan (wk), Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria, Naved-ul-Hasan.