Kamran asked to fall on his sword

Pakistan cricket management have told embattled vice-captain Kamran Akmal to fall on his sword to avert selection chaos ahead of Thursday's start to the third Test against Australia. While Kamran had previously insisted he would stay as wicketkeeper-batsman against Australia at Bellerive Oval, coach Intikhab Alam is adamant he will make way for flown-in rookie Sarfraz Ahmed.
In latest twist in Kamran saga following his dreadful "iron gloves" display in second Test, Sarfraz on Tuesday said he was excited and nervous to be making his Test debut. The youngster also said Kamran had thrown his support behind him and his fellow team-mates had urged him to play the Test like "a normal first-class match".
Although Australians, further buoyed by Simon Katich's return, felt a change of keepers would further aid their chances of a series clean sweep, Intikhab revealed he'd spoken to Kamran about dropping himself. Pakistan's four tour selectors - Kamran, Intikhab, captain Mohammad Yousuf and manager Abdul Raquib - will sit down on Wednesday to decide their final XI.
With Kamran and Yousuf having indicated they would vote together to keep the 48-Test incumbent, the only way tourists could avoid a farcical stalemate was by convincing one to follow instructions of Pakistan Cricket Board.
Intikhab likened the situation to when former vice-captain Misbahul-Haq dropped himself after a run of poor form in Sri Lanka last July. "(Misbah) sat in the meeting and we decided that at times we have to make tough decisions and we will take that decision," the coach said.
"There is no doubt about it, Sarfraz will play. I've already spoken to Kamran and he understands that these things happen in cricket. I'm sure he's good enough to come back. After this Test match we have five ODIs and a Twenty20 and he is a good enough wicketkeeper-batsman to come back."
Kamran and Yousuf had initially indicated they would choose to keep 48-Test incumbent in spite of his four dropped second-innings catches which helped Australia launch their SCG great escape. Kamran had even stressed he would only play as a wicketkeeper, not as a specialist batsman, while his brother Umar Akmal reportedly feigned a back injury as a form of boycott on Monday.
Intikhab laughed off such reports after Umar trained strongly with Sarfraz on Tuesday to declare himself fit and ready to play with a pain-killing injection. "It's rubbish, I laugh when I read such stories," coach said. He's one of emerging players in the team and he's capable.
He's okay, it's not a serious injury. He just had a sore back." The whole episode overshadowed Katich's successful effort in proving his fitness after missing 36-run Sydney triumph with a forearm injury. Standby Phil Hughes was released to play for NSW in Twenty20 Big Bash.
Katich's opening partner Shane Watson strongly backed Kamran, a Rajasthan team-mate in IPL, to select himself while Mitchell Johnson felt a change of keepers could be a blessing in disguise for home team. "It's very unfortunate to see the media scrutiny on Kamran Akmal," Watson said. "He's a very, very lovely guy and a very talented player. Hopefully, fingers crossed, he gets another opportunity."