Fielding coach Grant Luden has apparently fallen out with a group of players. However the Pakistan board insists he'll see out his contract, which runs until May next year.
South African-born Luden was understood to be unhappy at the attitude of some Pakistan players during training drills. Senior players were seen exchanging strong words with Luden, and questioning his lack of a high profile playing record. Luden didn't play first-class cricket but worked with Bangladesh from June 2008 until joining Pakistan last May.
The word is he wanted to resign after the bustup but was persuaded to stay on by Pakistan board director of operations Zakir Khan.
In a statement, surprise surprise, the PCB and team management "hold the job he is doing in high esteem ... the team trained in a spirit of camaraderie", it said. If this was British football, that would mean he'll be gone by Monday.
The Pakistanis are also under the pump from former legends Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Javed Miandad. Imran who led Pakistan to their greatest triumph, winning the 1992 cup in Australasia, slammed Umar Akmal over his sloppy wicketkeeping against India. Miandad, not always a tight soulmate with Imran, concurred.
Choosing Akmal, who dropped centurymaker Virat Kohli on 76, was "a mistake", Imran said, adding that he always believed in using a specialist keeper. Miandad said that it was a "mindboggling team selection", adding that Akmal's blunder "didn't surprise me".
Akmal was chosen ahead of specialist Sarfraz Ahmed, himself no velvet glove performer, but certainly far superior to Akmal.
And Akram? He's toey because he hasn't been asked to help Pakistan out. He said the PCB or management would have to ask him first for help. He wouldn't be going to them. They haven't so far.
"How does anyone expect me to get involved if no one asks me," he said.
