Sarfraz to replace Akmal in Hobart, says coach

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam says Sarfraz Ahmed will replace off-colour Kamran Akmal as wicketkeeper in the Hobart Test against Australia.

"He needs a rest, and being a senior player he has to understand the situation. Sarfraz is playing as wicketkeeper," the coach said from Hobart.

Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said the PCB higher-ups directed manager Abdul Raquib and Alam to inform Akmal that he would not play in the Hobart Test.

Kamran caused confusion as did captain Mohammad Yousuf by giving statements that Sarfraz was not a certainty to play in Hobart.

Akmal drew widespread criticism from former players when he insisted that he would play in the Hobart Test and he is not willing to play as a batsman alone.

To compound matters, reports in the Australian media claimed that his younger brother Umar Akmal had also tried to pressurise the team management to play his elder brother by faking a muscle injury.

"The PCB made it clear to Raquib and Intikhab that players will not decide who will play and that Kamran must be given rest in the Hobart Test at all costs," a source said.