Yousuf not ready to face England, Akmal dropped

BIRMINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – Pakistan batsman  Mohammad Yousuf will not play in the second test against England  on Friday 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 they were  bowled out for their lowest-ever test total against England of  80.

Pakistan have dropped wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and brought  in uncapped Zulqarnain Haider in his place for the second test  while spinner Saeed Ajmal replaces Danish Kaneria.

Yousuf had earlier told Reuters that 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 practice 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.

“My flight was over ten hours from Lahore to Karachi,  Karachi to Dubai and then Dubai to Birmingham. It was a very  hectic flight. I have more chance of (playing in the third test  at) The Oval.”

Yousuf, who was handed a one-year ban for his role in  undermining morale during the dismal tour of Australia this  year, said he had watched the humiliating first test on  television at his Lahore residence.

The 35-year-old has played 88 test matches 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.