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Karachi: Wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal was dropped from the Pakistan squad Monday for two Twenty20 internationals against England in Dubai later this month.
Akmal came under severe criticism for his poor performance in recent test series against Australia. Sarfraz Ahmed, who replaced Akmal for the third test in Australia, but did not feature in either five one-day internationals or the T20 game, was named as Pakistan wicketkeeper Monday.
Pakistan's regular Twenty20 captain, Shahid Afridi, will miss the first game in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after he was banned for two matches for ball tampering during the fifth one-day international against Australia.
Shoaib Malik, who led Pakistan in the only T20 game against Australia, was retained as captain for the short series against England to be played on Feb. 19 and 20.
"If Afridi was not banned for two matches, he would have led the side," Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Wasim Bari told the Associated Press.
Bari said Afridi will lead Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies in April-May.
Chief selector Iqbal Qasim resigned after Australia whitewashed Pakistan in both test (3-0) and one-day series (5-0), and PCB chairman Ijaz Butt finalized the T20 squad in consultation with other selectors.
Pakistan will be also be without in-form fast bowler Mohammad Asif, who is barred from entering into the UAE after he was deported from Dubai when a small quantity of opium was found in his wallet while he was traveling back to Pakistan in 2008 after playing in the first edition of Indian Premier League.
Coach Intikhab Alam will not accompany with the team, but Bari refrained from commenting on the future of the Pakistan team coach.
Former test batsman Ijaz Ahmed, who coached the U-19 team to the World Cup final in New Zealand, was named as batting and fielding coach of the Twenty20 squad.
Ahmed will join the squad on Feb. 18 as he will be with the Pakistan A team in the United Arab Emirates competing against England A.
Allrounder Abdul Razzaq, who missed the one-day series against Australia, has recovered from hand injury.
Squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Khalid Latif, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Sarfraz Ahmad (wk), Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Arafat, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Talha.
