 Kamran
Akmal has been selected in the ODI squad for the away series against New Zealand.
The series would be Pakistan's last outing before the World Cup which starts
in February. It is believed that more or less the same squad will be picked
for the World Cup. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced their 15 man squad
on Wednesday. Kamran Akmal and Misbah ul Haq are the noted inclusions.
Kamran Akmal will replace his brother Adnan Akmal who is currently keeping in
Test matches against New Zealand.
Pakistan's current Test captain Misbah ul Haq also returns. Misbah was dropped
during the ODI series against South Africa in UAE in October, when he managed
the scores of 14 and 17 in two innings. Misbah will take the place of Mohammad
Yousaf who has been left out of all formats in recent times. This could potentially
mean that Yousaf's career may be over let alone playing in the next month's
World Cup.
Yousaf unlike Akmal and Shoaib Malik has no disciplinary problems. He
is dropped due to his deteriorating form and most of the fans and experts in
Pakistan also acknowledge that his time may be over. The demand for Shoaib
Malik however, is increasing and many say he should be a part of The New Zealand
tour and World Cup.
Fawad Alam has also not been included expectedly after not making it to the
30 probables list for World Cup. Young Ahmad Shahzad, the opener from Lahore
is included in the squad for New Zealand, making him a favourable candidate
for World Cup spot.
Kamran Akmal has not featured in the Pakistan team after the infamous tour
of England. His exclusion from the squad has not been short of controversy,
the reasons for PCB not giving him permission to play are still unclear. His
return to the side ends a great deal of uncertainty and speculation that has
been around him since the tour of England. His name came up in the spot fixing
controversy and was dropped by PCB. ICC cleared him for selection in October
and said that his record is clean. PCB however, didn't clear him to play for
Pakistan up till now even though he was performing in the domestic cricket.
PCB's integrity committee kept both Akmal and Malik off the charts for unknown
reasons. Kamran Akmal is also in the list of 30 probables for the World
Cup.
Ahmad Shahzad featured in the three T20s against New Zealand and played
an impressive innings of 54 in the last T20. Shahid Afridi will be the captain
for the New Zealand ODIs.
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