Kamran Akmal to lead Pakistan in Super Sixes
16 October, 2012
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday named wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal to lead the side's defence of the Hong Kong Super Sixes title later this month.
The selectors have left out experienced all-rounder Abdul Razzaq from the squad. Razzaq, who has been issued a show-cause notice for making negative remarks about the national T20 captain Mohammad Hafeez, was initially considered to be a certain selection for the squad. But the selectors, apparently on the instructions of PCB, did not consider him for the tournament. Razzaq created controversy by blaming the captain for his exclusion from the World Twenty20 semifinal against Sri Lanka which Pakistan lost by 16 runs, describing the decision as ‘illogical and taken only by Hafeez.” The selectors also ignored another seasoned all-rounder Shoaib Malik and dashing opener Imran Nazir for the tournament, though both performed well last year in the same event taking the team to the final. Pakistan face archrivals India, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in Pool B of the eight-team tournament, with Australia, England, South Africa and Hong Kong in Pool A. Pakistan beat England in last year's final to secure their fifth title in the tournament, first staged in 1992. The event will be held on October 27 and 28. The teams consist of six players with one player as substitute. Squad: Kamran Akmal (capt), Umar Akmal, Owais Zia, Hammad Azam, Yasir Shah, Junaid Khan, Tanveer Ahmad. End. |