The Pakistani Test cricket team's selection controversy is getting curiouser and curiouser.
The Pakistani Test cricket team's selection controversy is getting curiouser and curiouser.
Just when it seemed the rumpus had been settled with coach Intikhab Alam's announcement yesterday that wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal, who is the team's vice-captain, would stand down as a consequence of dropping four catches in the Sydney Test, Kamran insisted he would play in tomorrow's third and final Test at Hobart.
"I will not drop myself," Kamran said last night.
"No one has told me anything. I have not spoken to coach or captain. You have to talk to them but I have said I want to play and that is it."
As confusion reigned, coach Alam said: "Yes Sarfraz will play, definitely. He was sent here to play, not to just have a rest."
In reply to a question if Kamran, who is a member of the tour selection committee along with captain Mohammed Yousuf, the coach and manager Abdul Raquib, would drop himself at today's meeting, Alam replied: "I have already spoken to Kamran and I think, he understands. This has happened in the past. We were in Sri Lanka (last year). Misbah-ul-Haq was the vice-captain and he wasn't having a good time. He sat in the meeting and we agreed for Misbah to be dropped.
"At times you have to take a tough decision. Sarfraz will play."
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