HOBART, Australia: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam on Tuesday gave his charges a day off ahead of their third and final Test against Australia but opted to take two youngsters — who have been at the center of most attention over the last few days — for a special practice session here at the Bellerive Oval.
It was apparent that Intikhab wanted to prove a point when he decided to supervise an extended training session involving just Umar Akmal and Sarfraz Ahmed.
Umar, the young batting sensation, has made a lot of news in recent times by getting ‘injured’ just a day after it was announced that his elder brother Kamran Akmal has been axed for the third Test after a horrific display behind the stumps during the second Test in Sydney last week.
Well-placed sources in the Pakistan team had said that Umar’s announcement that he has sustained back injury could have been to protest against his brother’s axing from the Test squad.
However, Intikhab told ‘Arab News’ here on Tuesday Umar is fully fit now and will be playing in the third Test starting on Thursday.
“Umar has had a minor problem with his back but he is okay now,” said the coach.
“He had a net session today and is fully fit to play in the Test,” he added.
Sarfraz, too, has been in the news after he was rushed to Australia by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after Pakistan lost the second Test by 36 runs even though they were in a commanding position because of a 206-run first innings lead. However, Kamran dropped three catches, allowing Australia to make a stunning comeback in the match.
Sarfraz was sent to Australia as Kamran’s replacement and the PCB had announced that he would participate in the Hobart Test.
But Kamran ignited a major controversy when he announced that he will continue to keep the wickets for Pakistan, saying that he had the support of his teammates and team management.
But Intikhab played down the issue stressing that a little misunderstanding led to a lot of speculative stories in the media.
“It was not a big issue,” he said. “Sarfraz was sent from Pakistan as a replacement player and he will be our wicketkeeper in Hobart, there was never any doubt about that.” When asked about Kamran’s reaction, Intikhab said that the team management has had a chat with the vice-captain and the issue has been resolved.
“We have had a discussion with him (Kamran) and he understands what’s expected of him. We have convinced him that the decision has been taken in the team’s interest.”
Inikhab, a former Pakistan captain, stressed that the atmosphere in the team’s dressing room is fine and his boys were focused on winning the third Test.
“All the stories of confusion and discord in our team are baseless,” he said. “We may have lost the last two Tests but we haven’t lost our will to play good cricket. I’m sure that my boys will go all out to win the Hobart Test.
Sarfraz Ahmed said that he is getting valuable tips from Kamran Akmal .
He also admitted that there is a lot of pressure on him ahead of his first Test and too against Australia.
“Of course I’m feeling the pressure,” he said here at the Bellerive Oval. “The pressure is always there when you are representing your country against Australia,” stressed the 22-year-old.
“But my coaches, the manager and players have really supported me and told me to take no pressure and treat it like you are playing a normal first-class match.”
Watson support
Meanwhile, Australian opener Shane Watson once played on the same team as Kamran Akmal in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008.
On Tuesday, Watson voiced strong support for the besieged Pakistani wicketkeeper, hoping that Kamran will be given a chance to play.
“It’s very unfortunate, the media scrutiny on Kamran Akmal,”said Watson, who is Australia’s most prolific batter in the current series.
“Considering I played with him in the IPL and he is a very lovely guy and a very talented player too.
It’s unfortunate, but hopefully he will get another opportunity to show everyone how good he is,” he added.
“I hope he does play, because he is an extremely talented player and it would be nice to see him out there. I am sure he will put on a very good performance,” Watson said on Tuesday.
