Younger brother tries to pull out of Pakistan's 3rd test squad in protest against pressure to omit Kamran
Younger brother tries to pull out of Pakistan's 3rd test squad in protest against pressure to omit Kamran
With two days to go before the third and final Test in Hobart, a crisis of major proportions is brewing in the Pakistan camp.
With wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who dropped four catches in Pakistan's crushing defeat to Australia in Sydney, insisting he would play as wicketkeeper-batsman amid reports of support from his captain Mohammed Yousuf but opposition from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and coach Intikhab Alam, Kamran's younger brother Umar Akmal tried to pull out in protest.
Nineteen-year old batting prodigy Umar announced yesterday he had a side strain and would not be fit to play whereupon team officials ordered him to undergo scans. Umar passed the test and was ordered to play.
The Daily Telegraph quotes vice-captain Kamran, who is a member of the four-member tour selection committee that includes captain Yousuf and Intikhab Alam, as saying: "I'm not playing as a batsman... wicket-keeping, that's it."
Australia's hopes for a series whitewash were buoyed yesterday with the news that key left-handed opening batsman Simon Katich is set to return to the side following an elbow injury.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's 17-year old speed sensation Mohammed Amer has thrown down the gauntlet saying he doesn't fear Ricky Ponting as batsman and that he will test the Australian captain's weakness against the pull shot, despite Ponting's professed intention to eliminate the pull shot which has recently become his Achilles heel.
