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Karachi: Pakistan selection committee, on Wednesday, replaced experienced wicketkeeper and vice-captain Kamran Akmal with young Sarfaraz Ahmed in the playing eleven for the third Test against Australia commencing in Hobart from Thursday.
Besides Akmal, the selectors also dropped Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq and fast bowler Muhammad Sami from the team and replaced them with Khurrum Manzoor, Shoaib Malik and Muhammad Aamir.
There were plenty of speculation and rumors regarding the selection of Akmal, who put up a disappointing show in the Sydney Test as his team suffered a 36-run defeat.
While the national selectors had rushed Sarfaraz to Australia and said he would play in the Hobart Test, captain Muhammad Yousuf kept everybody on the tenterhooks by insisting a final decision would be made by the tour selection committee.
Akmal himself also caused plenty of confusion by stating that he was ready to play the Hobart Test and had no intention of dropping out.
But according to sources when the matter got out of hand, the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ejaz Butt got into action and made it clear to the team management, including Yousuf, that Akmal must be dropped as his form was atrocious in Sydney.
Akmal dropped four catches and missed a run out that cost Pakistan the chance to win a Test against Australia after 15 years.
Shane Watson was the Test find of the year for Australia in 2009 and he started the new year in style with 97 at the SCG. In his five Tests this summer, Watson has collected 579 runs at 72.37. His quick scoring at the top of the order has been a key to Australia's positive results, even if scores of 96, 89, 93 and 97 have made him a tragi-comic figure.
This will be Watson's first Test at Bellerive Oval, where he started his first-class career in 2000-01, and it was his home ground until he moved back to Queensland in 2004-05.
Team news
Australia: The only change for Australia is the return of Simon Katich, who missed the Sydney Test and Phillip Hughes definetly.
Squad (likely): Ricky Ponting (capt), Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger.
Pakistan: The have made four changes to the line-up that imploded in Sydney. Misbah and Iqbal are out, with Malik and Manzoor the beneficiaries. Aamer is fit again and has replaced Mohammad Sami, and Sarfraz has come in for Akmal.
Squad (likely): Mohammad Yousuf (capt), Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, mar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif.
Pitch and conditions
Hobart is renowned as a swing bowler's paradise and if the conditions are overcast that is often the case. However, just as often there are big runs to be had and Ricky Ponting was expecting a surface on which his attack would have to work extra hard for their rewards. The first two days are likely to provide perfect, mild conditions but there could be showers over the final three days of the Test.
Stats and trivia
Match facts
January 14-18, 2010
Start time 1030 local time (2330 GMT pre day)
