Pakistan drops Kamran Akmal, three others for Hobart test

In a bid to avoid a series clean sweep by Australia, Pakistan has dropped vice-captain Kamran Akmal and three others from its squad going for the Hobart test.

Following Akmals’ ouster, young wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed will make his debut in the third Test starting from Thursday.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Pakistani manager Adbul Raquib, as saying that the four-man selection panel voted unanimously to drop Akmal after his dreadful second Test display at the SCG.

Former captain Shoaib Malik and Khurram Manzoor will be replacing struggling batsmen Faisal Iqbal and Misbah-ul-Haq, while pacer Mohammad Aamer is replacing Mohammad Sami.

Pakistan: Mohammad Yousuf (capt), Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Mohammed Asif, Danish Kaneria, Faisal Iqbal (12th man).