Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq could not help contradicting a recommendation of Cheif Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq requesting batsman Azhar Ali as the opener rather than unpracticed Sami Aslam amid the upcoming Test series against England, in case any of the regular openers Mohammad Hafeez or Shan Masood are occupied for any reason.
Inzamam is the view that Sami may not be able to face the English conditions with maturity, so it will be better to also keep Azhar Ali as the other option for opener’s slot.
However, the sources said Misbah told Inzamam clearly that if he does not have full confidence in Sami’s abilities as an opener, he should not have selected him in the first place.
Read more: PCB appoints Azhar, Mushtaq as bowling coaches for England tour
Hafeez, whose selection in the Test team for the tour of England remained dramatic as he neither attended the Boot camp in Kakul nor the short training camp in Lahore, has still been named in the squad.
Hafeez himself has owned up to his recurring knee problems but believes that he will completely overcome his fitness problems before the team’s departure to England on June 18.
Read more: Pakistan batsmen have more experience this time, says Misbah
