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Akmal was criticised for dropping crucial catches during the World Cup, where Pakistan lost in the semi-finals to arch rival and host India. -File Photo
LAHORE: Pakistani selectors on Wednesday dropped faltering wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal from the one-day and Twenty20 squad for this month's tour of the West Indies and rested senior players.
The 29-year-old was criticised for dropping crucial catches during the World Cup, where Pakistan lost in the semi-finals to arch rival and host India.
“We have given Kamran Akmal a break because his wicketkeeping was not up to the mark during the World Cup,” chief selector Mohsin Khan told AFP.
Local media said the wicket-keeper will also lose his Test place to younger brother Adnan Akmal, part of the Test team to New Zealand earlier this year.
Mohammad Salman, 29, will keep wicket in the Twenty20 and one-day matches.
Pakistan will play a Twenty20 international, five one-day games and two Tests on the month-long tour, starting from April 18.
Khan said the tour gives Pakistan an opportunity to test new players.
“We have chosen the team with a plan to try some youngsters who can serve Pakistan in the future,” said Khan.
“Younis Khan and Umar Gul have been rested while Abdul Razzaq could not fit into the team.”
One-day skipper Shahid Afridi had hinted that senior players would be rested to give younger team members a chance, prompting Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq and Umar Gul -- all part of the World Cup squad -- to be left out.
Afridi will not be part of the Test team after retiring from the longer version of the game last year.
Misbah-ul-Haq will lead Pakistan in the Tests, for which a squad will be announced later.
Among the newcomers is Usman Salahuddin, a 20-year-old right hander who scored 927 runs in the country's premier first class tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, last season.
Aizaz Cheema is a right arm pacer, while Hammad Azam is an all-rounder who made Pakistan's squad for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean last year, but did not play a match.
Squad (T20 and one-day): Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shahzad, Taufiq Umar, Usman Salahuddin, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Tanvir Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam, Aizaz Cheema, Mohammad Salman.
Tour programme: April 18 - one-day warm-up match - St Lucia April 21 - Twenty20 international - St Lucia April 23 - First one-day international - St Lucia April 25 - Second one-day international - St Lucia April 28 - Third one-day international - Barbados May 1 - Fourth one-day international - Barbados May 5 - Fifth one-day international - Guyana May 8-9 - Two-day match - Guyana May 12-16 - First Test - Guyana May 20-24 - Second Test - St Kitts
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On DawnNews
Comments (48) Closed
Apr 06, 2011 01:48pm
FINALLY! About time! But the thing is that I believe that Kamran Akmal will creep his way back. He always somehow does it! :(
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Apr 06, 2011 01:49pm
What are Shehzad n Misbah doing there?
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Apr 06, 2011 01:56pm
Delighted to see that Ahmad Shehzad is not dropped, he is an excellent opener who can take the game away from the opposition. He did have a poor WC but he is very young and has talent in abundance. Thank God, good for nothing Kamram Akmal is dropped, I hope Salman does the job and keeps his place, we surely do not want to see another Zulqarnain Haider. Good to see that Junaid Khan is retained and Hammad Azam given a chance at the top level. God knows why is Sohail Tanvir not in the squad, I feel we are short of fast bowlers. No Umar Gul, no Shoaib Akhtar (retired) and no Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz and Tanvie Ahmed won't be able to do the job on their own.
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Apr 06, 2011 01:57pm
For good performance, the players have to be chosen on the basis of merit-record only and at the same time new blood must be injected for the sake of the future.
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Apr 06, 2011 01:58pm
Very Good, But why have the selectors left out Azhar Ali,Fawad Alam and Zain Abbass from one day team, This Aiziz Cheema guy is 31 what is the point will he be able to play next world cup? I dont think so, Why not give a chance to Anwer Ali or sarmad bhatti.
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Apr 06, 2011 02:15pm
Umer Akmal will make sure Kamran Akmal is back soon, in this process Umer will lose his spot as well and more problems will occur.
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Apr 06, 2011 02:21pm
I think Umar Gul has to be part of team.
All the best for West Indies Tour.
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Apr 06, 2011 02:27pm
Not a good selection.
Players ony upto age of 23 shoud have been seected and not 30 years guys.
Gosh when wi we have seectors with ong term panning.
Out of cricket crazy popuation they cannot find young talented players very sad...I guess this is CORUPTION...we will loose our no 6 Ranking as well with theses selectors.
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Apr 06, 2011 02:31pm
Why Misbah is still there?? He is 37 now. PCB should have shown the doors to him as well. There are so many talented players in Pakistan. Why Fawad Alam is not there. Azhar Ali should have been in the team as well. Its the time to groom him as team for 2015 needs to be build from now. What is the reason to pick guys over 30?? I dont understand when will this parchi system end. Imran Farhat is again seleted though he had been given ample of chances but all in vain. May God bless Pakistan.
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Apr 06, 2011 02:32pm
Misbahul Huque the one of the major culprits in the world cup semi final debacle against India remains in the team, very strange.
Ejaz butt Zinda Bad
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Apr 06, 2011 02:34pm
I believe Umar Gul shouldn't have been dropped. His performance was great throughout the tournament. Yes he didn't perform well on the semi-final day but there is always a bad day for every sportsman.
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Apr 06, 2011 02:40pm
Kamran Akmal should never be brought again.Besides, why isn't Misbah drooped? This simply nonsense on part of the selectors.The other other thing that deserves mention here is about Mohammad yousuf, why isn't he in the team.
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Apr 06, 2011 02:42pm
I can understand Misbah for Tests.... But One Days and 20/Twenty. God Help Pakistan. Our selectors do not seem to have their priorities right.
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Apr 06, 2011 02:50pm
Where is Imran Nazir? I think he should be given a chance. It is injustice to Imran Nazir.
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Apr 06, 2011 03:10pm
Why you are droping Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul. Pakistan lose in world cup was due to lack of Mohd. Yusuf as Pakistan bating was weak. Bring Mohd. Yusuf, Shoaib Malik back.
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Apr 06, 2011 03:33pm
It is good that youngstars are being chcnses however, Afridi should be part of Test team as well which will help him to strengthen his bating as well. Umar gul sould be part of the team at any cost as he has been the match winner boller in past.
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Apr 06, 2011 03:33pm
Misba should be dropped like, he drops catch of Tendolkar
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Apr 06, 2011 03:52pm
the team selection is reasonable az all ahe players need rest after a pressure cup tour.. new players in action will allow increased options for selectors to chose from.. however every big match of every big trophy seems to b controlled by political compromises.. sorry to say that but that's the truth.......
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Apr 06, 2011 04:14pm
I am almost certain Gul will be selected in the future.Its reasonable to give him a break from this tour.However,why is a 37 year old leading in the test series.He should be given some vitamin supplements and retired.In Pakistani selection of any team,be it hockey,badminton or cricket,there is
always always political interference,therefore 2nd rate mixture.
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Apr 06, 2011 04:35pm
misbah negative approach cost us world cup .he should have dropped from the team .
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Apr 06, 2011 04:40pm
I do not know the logic behind the selection of Misbha ul Haq and Cheema, for the shorter formate of game you need young blood.
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Apr 06, 2011 06:10pm
Where is Anwar Ali? why was he not selected? he is such an excellent swing bowler. Look at his videos from U19 world cup final against india on youtube.
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Apr 06, 2011 06:17pm
The problem with our selection is that under the table culture is penetrated as with the other departments, so can't help it and we have to bear with Misbah..........
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Apr 06, 2011 06:19pm
i think pakistan is not interested in winning test match by including misbah....
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Apr 06, 2011 06:36pm
is not Imran Nazir the same bowler who gave away 47 runs in 5 balls to let Australia win in Hong Kong super Six last year?
is not he?
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Apr 06, 2011 06:38pm
I guess, Pakistan will never get rid of Akmal brothers. does not matter what we 'think'.
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Apr 06, 2011 07:08pm
Why can't we have Fawad Alam and Anwar Ali? I hope Kamran doesn't come back in the team.
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Apr 06, 2011 07:12pm
Why the selectors did not drop Misbah ul Haq did not they remember his batting in Mohali?
I would say one couch is needed to make players tension free during batting because when our openers out then the remaining orders make a line. we will never forget the historical defeat at the hand of India in Mohali.
Anyhow pray for a strong and patriotic team for the future of Pakistan.
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Apr 06, 2011 07:18pm
Akmal should never come back in the team. Misbah is a good choice for test and one day, I agree he made bad decision during semifinal but he led us many wins specially in test and T20. It was not only Misbah who is responsible for semifinal, all the upper order player, poor bowling by Gul and pethetic fielding.Razzak should never come back he should be retired. Why Umar gul has given rest for his poor bowling which cost us semifinal huh......
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Apr 06, 2011 07:19pm
Rain falls from the top,the complete structure has to be revamped.The whole PCB set-up needs to be chopped down and a new tree should be planted.I for one am always guessing the outcome of every game? Give new blood a chance and get the cancer out of the body structure of PCB.
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Apr 06, 2011 08:24pm
disgusting to see 38 years old Misbah in the one day squad.Where is Sarfraz Ahmad (Wicket Keeper) ? looks
Ejaz Butt does not like him
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Apr 06, 2011 08:24pm
We need to groom new young guys who can lead us to win 2015world cup rather to depend on kamran,yunus & misba will be invain.
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Apr 06, 2011 09:22pm
Misbah did not cost pak the WC11, in the semi it was the Batting of Akmal, Afridi, Hafeez and Razzaq that did not perform thus Ind wining the WC11
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Apr 06, 2011 09:39pm
i really wish if our comments could matter....so useless
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Apr 06, 2011 10:18pm
Bolling may b weak without Gul,y is Razaq dropped? Why is not Imran Nazir in the Squad ?
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Apr 06, 2011 11:17pm
they should remove akmal younis and misbha bring some one new and shoaib malik... and make miandad a batting coach ...
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Apr 06, 2011 11:44pm
I think Anwar Ali, the swing bowler should have been given a chance
Zaffar
Sweden
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Apr 06, 2011 11:59pm
I think we are planning to bring young boys and give them playing experience. Azhar Ali has shown maturity and has gained experience. He was hood in test series and with the pessage of time he will great asset in ODI. Please look at him again.
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Apr 07, 2011 04:35am
what is the point of replacing a 29 year old wicket keeper with another 29 years old and on top of that selecting a 31 yesr old fast bowler. what a joke. are we building team for nex world cup or are we just doing a joke here. mr butt is ruinnning our cricket.he must be fired. why we keep selecting akmals. Dont we have other good keepers. dont we have other players outside this pathetic akmal brothers. i hate to say these brothers are the black spot to our cricket
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Apr 07, 2011 05:41am
I almost agree with you.
Bring Yusuf back but not Shoaib Malik.
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Apr 07, 2011 05:42am
Consider Gul past his prime. He has no place in the team.
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Apr 07, 2011 05:43am
So be it.
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Apr 07, 2011 05:47am
I once took 7 wickets! Do I get a chance?
Imran Nazir doesn't belong in the side.
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Apr 07, 2011 06:28am
I am very hopeful- Pakistan cricket has a bright future. Indeed, it is a very good approach to bring youth in to the team. Our blower are very best. We have to focus on the batting. Look India played under pressure quite well, unfortunately, Youns and Misbah played poorly. I am very sorry to state, in semi-final, I did not see any senior player did justice to their side.
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Apr 07, 2011 08:18am
I am sure Akmal brothers have deep links otherwise no one can stay in the team after such performance. Pakistan has so much talent and I don't understand why we don't replace such dubious characters
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Apr 07, 2011 11:24am
In west indies tour new players should be tried out. So it gives great idea who will represent Pakistan in future. Misbah and Younis are good choices for test but not ODI and T20. Misbah needs to adopt more agressive approach wether it is his game or captaincy. It good oppurtunity for our team build strong reserve players. Nice to see Hammad Azam back in team. He should be given chance to play. He can be better allrounder than Razzaq.
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Apr 07, 2011 09:40pm
I think the whole structure of cricket in pak has to be changed. what we need is people like Imran Khan,Shohaib Moh. etc to run PCB.If u have fair selection u r bound to have a very good team. sadley for pak. its bad news in all sectors ie sports, politics u name it.i am not a pakistani, but love to see pak prosper & have been waiting for 60 yrs. when will that day come.God bless PAKISTAN
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Apr 08, 2011 07:53pm
i dont think we shud b debating over selecting players over 30 cuz we have a prime example tht imran khan was 9-40 when he led us to 92 world cup victory....yes ofcourse performances shud b considered....akmal brothers r definitely dubious they shud b replaced....players like anwer ali shud definitely b taken up....n gul may have had a bad day or whtever but i dont think hes out for too long.....but is pcb seriously insane cuz we dont have any batting and fielding coaches!!!! sure waqar bhai is a legend but we also need to excel in other areas of cricket cuz we lost semi final bcuz of poor fielding!!!!
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