Misbah skipping 3rd ODI triggers speculation
KARACHI: The trouble-prone Pakistan cricket team dressing room was once again witness to some drama and it took PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan’s intervention to diffuse the controversy generated by Misbahul-haq’s decision to rest from the third ODI against Australia.
Khan spoke to the media in Abu Dhabi to defuse the impression that Misbah had been pressurised into not playing the third ODI by the team management, which is totally behind Shahid Afridi who led the side in the match on Sunday.
But Misbah told AFP that he will try his best to regain his batting form and if that failed he would reconsider his future. WARNER CONFIDENT OF FITNESS FOR PAK TEST ABU DHABI: Australian batsman David Warner is confident he will be fit to face Pakistan in next week’s first Test despite suffering a groin injury in the final ODI in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
“I hope it’s only a week thing, I’ve had it before, three or four years ago and it’s just like a tight strain, I’m in good hands here,” he said, adding that captain Michael Clarke and all rounder Mitch Marsh were also tracking well as they bid to return from hamstring injuries. VETTORI IN NZ SQUAD FOR SCOTLAND GAME WELLINGTON: All-rounder Daniel Vettori has raised hopes of a full return to international cricket after being named in a 12-man squad for New Zealand’s one-dayer against Scotland on Wednesday. The 35-year-old had surgery on his left Achilles in June 2013. The New Zealand squad released on Monday for the match at Lincoln Oval also includes captain Brendon Mccullum but regulars Ross Taylor, Tim Southee and Kane Williamson will be rested.