Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced inclusion of two players namely wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal and all rounder Muhammad Hafeez in the national squad for the Test series against South Africa. Adnan Akmal, the elder brother of Umar Akmal and younger brother of Kamran Akmal has been included in the squad after wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider proceeded to England, abandoning Pakistan's UAE tour of South Africa.
Muhammad Hafeez will replace leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in the Test squad. Kaneria was mysteriously stopped by the PCB from joining the team in the UAE. It may be noted that Danish Kaneria and his Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield were under investigation for bowling deliberate no-balls and wides in a Pro40 win against Durham in September last year.
Kaneria was, however, released last month without being charged, while Westfield was facing a criminal case. Pakistan will face South Africa in the first Test at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium starting from November 12. The second Test will be played at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Stadium from November 20. A spokesman of Pakistan Cricket Board said here Tuesday that the National Selection Committee in consultation with the Team Management recommended the name of wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal to join the Pakistan team in UAE for Test series against South Africa. The Committee also recommended the name of Muhammad Hafeez in place of Danish Keneria in the Test Squad.
Sources said that Adnan Akmal is leaving for UAE on Wednesday. He will get visa at the airport. He will make his Test debut for Pakistan in the series after a string of impressive domestic performances. The Pakistani squad is comprised of Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Umar Akmal, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Danish Kaneria, Abdur Rehman, Adnan Akmal (WK), Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed, Mohammad Sami, Wahab Riaz.