Pakistan set to recall Kamran Akmal

Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has been ruled out of the remaining two Tests against England after doctors advised him on Monday he needed three weeks to recover from a finger injury.

Zulqarnain suffered a hairline fracture on his little finger in his right hand while making his debut in the recent second Test against England at Edgbaston where the 24-year-old made an impressive 80 even though Pakistan lost the match by nine wickets to go 2-0 down in a four-match series.

He had been brought in after Kamran Akmal was dropped after bagging a pair and having a poor match behind the stumps in a huge 354-run first Test loss at Trent Bridge.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) statement issued on Monday said the tour management has not requested a replacement for Zulqarnain, who is returning home, which suggests Kamran Akmal will be recalled for the third Test starting at The Oval here on Wednesday.

Reports in England suggested on Monday that the Pakistan management thought the injury was caused by Stuart Broad’s petulant throw at Zulqarnain, when he was batting at Edgbaston, which led to Broad being fined half of his match fee.

But Pakistan opener Imran Farhat told reporters here on Monday: “We are not sure if it was because of Stuart Broad, I am not blaming him.”