Pakistan name ODI squad for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kamran-Akmal-c70122 recalled – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033. Senior players Younis Khan and Umar Gul failed to make the cut, while first choice wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal returns to the
ranks, for the first time since http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World Cup 2011.
Experienced middle-order batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, where he scored 10 runs in four ODIs.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Gul-c94604, Pakistan’s strike seam bowler, also lost his place in the ODI squad owing to his disappointing performances in the ODI series against the Islanders, picking up only four wickets in five games. However, he has been retained for the three T20s against
mighty Aussies.
Pakistan’s chief selector http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Iqbal-Qasim-c76980, however said that the duo was dropped for the sake of rest.
"For a while Gul and Younis have been struggling and they have been dropped only to give them a break," the PCB chief selector told ESPNcricinfo. "Both have contributed a lot for Pakistan and we need them to be fresh ahead of the busy schedule. They desperately
need a break to manage their workload," he added further.
Kamran Akmal, who has not donned Pakistan colours since last year’s World Cup, was an anticipated inclusion in the squad, after being recalled for the World T20 Championship last month.
"Akmal is our first-choice as wicketkeeper-batsman for limited-overs cricket mainly because of his assured batting skills," said Qasim. "So drafting him in the ODI squad could help him gain more confidence ahead of the World T20," the chairman of selectors
hoped.
In the absence of Kamran Akmal, Pakistan selectors tried three wicketkeepers – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shakeel-Ansar-c89546 (T20Is) – but all of them struggled behind the stumps, prompting the board to return to Kamran.
Other notable inclusions in the squad are rookie pacer Junaid Khan and former skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shoaib-Malik-c90088.
Pakistan will play Australia in three ODIs and an equal number of T20 Internationals on the neutral venues of the UAE. The opening ODI will be played at Sharjah, on August 28. Australia are also scheduled to play an ODI against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745, on August 25,
at the same Sharjah venue.
Squad for ODIs against Australia: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Abdur-Rehman-c41691,
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Anwar-Ali-c45231
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