Islamabad: Pakistan dropped Umar Akmal on disciplinary grounds for the three-match Twenty20 series against England in the United Arab Emirates.
Akmal "has brought PCB and Pakistan cricket into disrepute" in Hyderabad (in Pakistan), where the middle-order batsman went to play a first-class match this week, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Thursday.
The PCB didn't elaborate what Akmal did, and chief selector Haroon Rashid said Akmal was issued a show cause notice and dropped on the instructions of the PCB.
Apparently, the PCB took notice of media reports that Akmal was allegedly involved in immoral activities during a party in a house, where he was accompanied by former Pakistan Under-19 captain Azeem Ghumman.
(Video courtesy: ARY News)
All-rounder Imad Wasim was in the 17-man squad on the proviso that he recovers from a broken finger before the first T20 on Nov. 26. In case Wasim doesn't recover, all-rounder Bilal Asif will be the 17th player.
The second T20 is on Nov. 27, and the third on Nov. 30.
Hard-hitting uncapped middle-order batsman Riffatullah Mohmand from Peshawar was rewarded for his outstanding performance in the recent domestic tournament.
Another rookie batsman, Iftikhar Ahmed, who will also replace the retired Younis Khan in the one-day international squad for the remaining three ODIs against England, was picked for the T20s.
Squad:
Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Riffatullah Mohmand, Shoaib Malik, Sohaib Maqsood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Imran Khan Junior, Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Amir Yamin, Imad Wasim (subject to fitness).
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
