Hafeez dropped, Akmal recalled

News

Cricket365
July 11, 2014

All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been dropped from Pakistan's Test squad ahead of August's series against Sri Lanka, while batsman Umar Akmal has been recalled.

Hafeez endured a poor stretch of form during 2013's tours of South Africa and Zimbabwe and this year's two Tests against the Sri Lankans in the United Arab Emirates brought just 113 runs in four innings.

Akmal, meanwhile, has not played the longest form of the international game since September 2011. A first-class average of 49.04 over 63 matches, however, has effectively warranted a recall.

The veteran Younis Khan has been named in the ODI touring party despite a recent contract demotion, which evoked former captain Wasim Akram's public criticism of the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision.

Fast bowlers Mohammad Irfan and Umar Akmal were not considered due to a hip and knee injury respectively.

"It is a mistake to demote Younis similarly it is hard on Irfan that he has been kept in category D, while at same time he is been considered a match-winner in the World Cup," Akram told GEO news recently.

The Sri Lankans and Pakistanis will meet for two Tests in Galle and Colombo between 6 and 18 August. Three ODIs will follow.

Test squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Khurram Manzoor, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Talha, Junaid Khan, Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz.

ODI squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Anwar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Talha, Wahab Riaz, Zulfiqar Babar.