Akmal, Misbah to face axe at Hobart

Saturday, January 9, 2010 -- Kaman Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq could be the two scapegoats from the Pakistan’s second Test match loss to Australia as the side looks for answers to overcome their continuous shoddy performances.

It has been said that the team management is keen on giving the wicket-keeper Akmal a break, while the chances of Misbah making it back to the Test match side are bleak. Akmal had dropped four catches in Australia’s second innings, which had included three of the bat of Michael Hussey. Hussey had gone on to make an unbeaten century and won Australia a game which they looked to be down and out till the last day of the game.

Misbah has been out of touch for some time now and averages only 24 in the last five or six games that he has played. He was not even a part of the squad touring New Zealand, but was called upon as they suffered from relative lack of experience in the team.

The two replacements for the aforementioned cricketers could be Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik. Ahmed was specially drafted into the side for Akmal and looks sure to play his first game in Australia, whereas Malik has been a part of the squad for some time but wasn’t chosen in the playing eleven.