Pakistan, England second Test today !

Subject: Pakistan, England second Test today ! Sat Aug 07, 2010 2:09 pm

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan has dropped wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and brought in uncapped Zulqarnain Haider in his place for the second Test, while spinner Saeed Ajmal replaces Danish Kaneria.

Experienced batsman Mohammad Yousuf will not play in the Test against England due to jetlag.

Yousuf, Pakistan`s third-highest scoring Test batsman and highest of the current squad, arrived in Birmingham less than a day before start of the five-day Test match at Edgbaston.

"Yousuf has not been picked for the Test as he has just reached Birmingham after a long flight from Karachi," team manager Yawar Saeed said.

"The tour selectors felt it would be better if Yousuf had time to adjust to the conditions and also play in the tour match before the third Test."

Former captain Yousuf was drafted into the squad on Sunday, despite having been banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board, after his country`s crushing 354-run first test defeat when it was bowled out for its lowest-ever Test total against England of 80.

Yousuf had earlier said he did not expect to be thrust straight into the side.

"I think it would be difficult not just for me, but for any player in the world to just arrive and tomorrow play cricket," he said.

"It`s not good for the team if I am a little bit... [tired]. I think I need another three or four days of practise and a little bit of training and play the next Test.

"I only arrived at three `o` clock and to play less than 20 hours later and adjust to the time difference as well is very difficult," he added.

The 35-year-old has played 88 Tests and averaged 53 and 70 in his 12 Tests against England, but he did not think past experience was enough to rely on in getting him through the match.

"Every Test match is a new game and although I have experience, I have to give respect to England and to my team-mates," he said.

Pakistan: Salman Butt (c), Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Zulqarnain Haider, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal.

End.