Four changes likely in Pak squad for third test following Sydney debacle
January 8th, 2010 - 2:45 pm ICT by ANISydney, Jan. 8 (ANI): Pakistan is likely to make four changes in its squad for the Hobart test match against Australia starting January 14. The side had lost the second Test despite reaching a strong position.
Kamran Akmal, the biggest culprit of Pakistan’s 36-run defeat at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Wednesday, will most likely be replaced by young wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
Akmal dropped four catches in the second Australian innings, out of which three came off the bat of Michael Hussey who made a match-winning century.
Also facing the axe is the experienced middle order bat Misbah-ul-Haq, who is expected to be dropped in favour of Shoaib Malik, the former Pakistan captain who is yet to get an opportunity to play on this tour.
“We are thinking about playing Malik in Hobart. Misbah is not in good form and we need somebody experienced to take his place if he is out of the team for the next Test,” The News quoted Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam, as saying.
Faisal Iqbal is also likely to sit out of the third Test, paving the way for opening batsman Khurram Manzoor.
Fast bowler Mohammad Aaamer, who missed the Sydney Test because of a groin problem, is fit and is all set to return to the playing eleven in Hobart. He is expected to replace fast bowler Mohammad Sami.
Sami bowled well in Sydney but the team management is expected to pick Umar Gul as one of the three pacers along with Aamer and Mohammad Asif. (ANI)
- Pak drops Akmal, three others for Hobart test - Jan 13, 2010
- Malik axed from Pakistan's Asia Cup side; Jamshed, Sarfraz recalled - Mar 03, 2012
- Asia Cup: Bangladesh opt to field against Pakistan - Mar 22, 2012
- Pakistan drop Riaz over spot-fixing links - Nov 21, 2011
- Afridi, Akmal not in new PCB contracts - Aug 08, 2011
- 'Recuperating' Tanvir dropped from Pak squad for South Africa Test series - Nov 05, 2010
- Pakistani pacer Aamer will be available for Hobart Test - Jan 04, 2010
- Pakistan ignore Younis for Test series against Australia - Dec 08, 2009
- Former Pakistan players hail selection of Younis, Malik - May 26, 2010
- 'Babysitting affected Kamran's Sydeny performance' - Jan 09, 2010
- Pakistan include Akmal in probables for Twenty20 World Cup - Feb 26, 2010
- Sarfraz 'will' make his Test debut in Hobart, says adamant Alam - Jan 12, 2010
- Sarfaraz to replace 'struggling' Kamran for Hobart Test: Alam - Jan 11, 2010
- No PCB contracts for Younis, Yousuf, Malik - Mar 19, 2010
- Sydney Test between Australia-Pakistan could be fixed - May 20, 2010
Tags: aamer, batsman, groin problem, haq, intikhab alam, iqbal, kamran akmal, michael hussey, mohammad asif, mohammad sami, pakistan captain, paving the way, second test, shoaib malik, sydney cricket ground, sydney cricket ground scg, team management, test match, third test, wicketkeeper
