Khurram in, Akmal to continue keep wickets in Zimbabwe
Opening batsman Khurram Manzoor is back in squad for the tour of Zimbabwe.
ISLAMABAD (AP) - Umar Akmal will continue to be Pakistan's wicketkeeper in this month's Twenty20s and one-day internationals against Zimbabwe, while long-overlooked opening batsman Khurram Manzoor has been recalled for the test matches, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced Tuesday.
Harare Sports Club will host back-to-back Twenty20s on Aug 23 and 24 before the teams compete in three ODIs and also the first test at the same venue, the PCB said in a statement. The second test will be played at Bulawayo from Sept. 10.
Last month, Akmal impressed selectors in his new role as wicketkeeper/batsman during Pakistan's victory in both one-day and Twenty20 series against the West Indies.
Manzoor has played seven test matches, but his last test was against Australia three years ago. Umar Akmal will not be the part of test squad and will be replaced by his brother Adnan.
Except for uncapped middle order batsman Sohaib Maqsood there are no surprises in the three teams. Ace offspinner Saeed Ajmal, fast bowler Junaid Khan and Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez made it to all three formats.
Opening batsman Khurram Manzoor, who has not played for Pakistan's test team for three and a half years, is back in the squad for the tour of Zimbabwe that starts this month.
The 27-year-old Manzoor won the last of his seven test caps against Australia in Hobart in January 2010. The Pakistan Cricket Board also announced on Tuesday that former captain Moin Khan, who was appointed chief selector last month, will be tour manager.
Left-arm paceman Mohammad Irfan has been rested for the tests against Zimbabwe but features in the one-day and Twenty20 squads. The two tests start on Sept. 3 and 10, in Harare and Bulawayo respectively.
The Twenty20s will be played on Aug. 23 and 24, with the three one-day internationals following on Aug. 27, 29 and 31.
Test squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Khurram Manzoor, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Younus Khan, Asad Shafiq, Faisal Iqbal, Azhar Ali, Adnan Akmal, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Ehsan Adil, Rahat Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman.
One-day squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shahzad, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Asad Ali, Anwar Ali, Abdul Rehman, Haris Sohail
Twenty20 squad: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shahzad, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Asad Ali, Anwar Ali, Zulfiqar Babar, Haris Sohail
Test: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Khurram Manzoor, Imran Farhat, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Faisal Iqbal, Adnan Akmal, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Ehsan Adil, Rahat Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman
Aug 23: First Twenty20 at Harare
Aug. 24: Second Twenty20 at Harare
Aug. 27: First one-day international at Harare
Aug. 29: Second one-day international at Harare
Aug. 31: Third one-day international at Harare
Sept. 3-7: First test at Harare
Sept. 10-14: Second test at Bulawayo
