Date:01/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/01/stories/2009070156521600.htm

Sport - Cricket

A problem of plenty for Pakistan

Karachi: The return of former Indian Cricket League (ICL) players Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq to the national fold has created a problem of plenty for Pakistan, which now faces a selection dilemma on the eve of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

“With Yousuf and Razzaq back, the tour selectors are not sure what to do because if both Yousuf and Razzaq are selected then the axe will fall on former captain Shoaib Malik,” one source said.

He said there was only one way Malik could retain his place and that was if the tour selection committee decides to persist with wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal as a make-shift opener in the Test series as well or if Malik was chosen to open.

“But (skipper) Younus himself is not very keen to go into the first Test with a makeshift opening pair and he wants specialist openers Salman Butt and Khurram Manzoor in the side,” the source said.

He said Yousuf, a veteran of 79 Tests, is certain to make a comeback.

“If Yousuf and Razzaq play then it would be difficult to accommodate Malik while the tour selectors also can’t ignore the continuing good performances of Fawad Alam,” he said. — PTI