ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cricket selectors Wednesday dropped wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and allrounder Abdul Razzaq for this month's one-day series against the West Indies. Akmal was heavily criticized for his poor wicketkeeping after dropping several crucial catches and missed stumpings during the World Cup, in which Pakistan was beaten by India in the semifinals. Razzaq took only five wickets and made 104 runs in eight World Cup games. Pakistan will play one Twenty20 match, five One-Day Internationals and two Test matches against the West Indies. The series begins at St. Lucia on Apr. 21 with a Twenty20 game. The Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement that the squad for two Test matches, starting May 12, will be announced later. Umar Gul and former captain Younis Khan were rested for the first leg of the tour. The selectors have included rookie wicketkeeper Mohammad Salman, middle-order batsman Usman Salahuddin, fast bowler Aizaz Cheema and allrounder Hammad Azam in the 16-member squad. The five-match one-day international series will be played at St. Lucia (Apr. 23 and 25), Barbados (Apr. 28 and May 1) and Guyana (May 5). First Test will be played at Guyana (May 12-16) with St. Kitts hosting the second test (May 20-24). The Squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Taufiq Umar, Usman Salahuddin, Misbahul Haq, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Tanvir Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam, Aizaz Cheema, Mohammad Salman. Jayawardene, selectors quit Veteran batsman Mahela Jayawardene quit as vice captain and a three-member selection committee also resigned en masse in a major shake-up in Sri Lankan cricket following the team's World Cup defeat. “I think it's time to move on, give the reins to someone younger in the team,” Jayawardene said. The resignations came a day after Kumar Sangakkara stepped down as one-day and Twenty20 captain. Warne denies India coach talk Australian spin legend Shane Warne Wednesday denied media reports that he was interested in coaching World Cup champion India. “Just got told on bus – apparently I put my hand up to coach India. Wow – first I have heard of it – Sorry to disappoint but never said that!!!” Warne tweeted. Leg-spinner Warne, 41, is in the country to take part in the Indian Premier League where he leads the Rajasthan Royals franchise in the Twenty20 competition, starting Friday. Local media reports earlier Wednesday said Warne had shown interest in the job. “It is a very difficult job to be India coach, it is never easy,” Warne was quoted as saying in the Mail Today newspaper.
