LONDON: Pakistan’s Test opener Mohammad Hafeez is unlikely to feature in the fourth and final Test match of the series at the Oval.
Hafeez’s poor run outside Asia and his disability to bowl has put him under clouds to be part of final elevel for the battle of Oval.
The rumours was more strengthened when yesterday Pakistan head-coach Mickey Arthur hinted inclusion of Iftikhar Ahmed, an opener with right-arm offspin bowling abilities, makes him favourite contestant for the fourth Test.
“Yes, he is an option,” Arthur said. “He bowls offspin and decently, England have a lot of left handers so he does give us an option as a fifth bowler if he comes in. But we have to be dead certain he can come into our top six and get runs, because we’ll be asking for runs first and bowling second,” Arthur maintained it on Tuesday while addressing a press conference at Oval.
The other possible option for Pakistan may be that Hafeez get dropped and Azhar comes to open alongside Sami Aslam. With this proportion, Pakistan would be open either add Iftikhar down in the middle order, or may also add a specialist bowler.
Pakistan’s (probable) squad:
Misbah ul Haq (capt), Iftikhar Ahmed/Zulfiqar Babar, Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Amir, Sohail Khan.
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