Cricket: Bungling keeper has say in decision to play

Besieged Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal will cast one of the four votes to decide if he plays in the third test against Australia in Hobart.

Kamran, the team's popular and influential vice-captain, was expected to be axed for Thursday's Bellerive Oval clash after dropping four catches and bungling a run out in his side's devastating loss in the second test in Sydney.

His fate appeared sealed when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unilaterally sent replacement Sarfraz Ahmad to Hobart, insisting he will play.

But Kamran, who has the support of skipper Mohammad Yousuf, says he is ready to make amends in Hobart, insisting he will play.

Kamran, Yousuf, manager Abdul Raqeeb and coach Intikhab Alam form the touring selection committee and they will decide the team, not the PCB, setting up a flashpoint amid the strife following the Sydney loss over the `keeper's inclusion.

Raqeeb on Monday said he and the trio named above would decide the team after training on Wednesday.

"It is the right thing to do," Raqeeb said.

"The selection committee is the manager, coach, the captain, the vice-captain."

Asked about the situation of Kamran voting on his own selection, Raqeeb said: "Well, the thing is, we will have to take a decision that is the right one."

Intikhab has said Sarfraz will play instead of Kamran but Raqeeb declined to indicate his voting intention.

Kamran says he has Intikhab's support as well as team management, coaches and his teammates.

There is some tension in the touring party toward the PCB after the request to send former captain Younus Khan was ignored and suggestions players are not happy about about the prospect of Kamran's sacking.

In Pakistan, there are calls for the sacking of just about everyone involved in the country's cricket - players, coaches, managers and the PCB after the humiliation of Sydney which has attracted the attention of the nation's parliament as well as its avid cricket fans.

Characterisations out of Pakistan of the Sydney loss have included it being described as the death of cricket there, grief, mourning and humiliation.

There are three changes to the Pakistan team that played in Sydney that are more certain than Kamran's replacement.

No 3 batsman Faisal Iqbal and middle-order man Misbah ul-Haq are tipped to make way for former captain Shoaib Malik and Khurrum Manzoor while teenage paceman Mohammad Aamer returns at the forecast expense of Mohammad Sami.

- AAP