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Kaneria, Iftikhar, Younis to get a crack in third ODI
Pakistan, who trail 0-2 in the six-match series, have decided to drop pacer Mohammad Sami, spinner Arshad Khan and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez.
Pakistan will make three changes for the third One-Day International against India to be played at Jamshedpur on Saturday.
Pakistan, who trail 0-2 in the six-match series, have decided to drop paceman Mohammad Sami, off-spinner Arshad Khan and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez.
"The three will be replaced by wrist spinner Danish Kaneria, fast bowler Rao Iftikhar Anjum and middle-order batsman Younis Khan," Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said.
The Pakistani skipper said Sami was being rested because of the tough playing conditions while Younis Khan was an automatic selection after he recovered from viral fever that kept him away from the first two games.
Regarding Arshad Khan, who has taken six wickets in two games, Inzamam said the strategy of playing a finger spinner was not working for Pakistan.
"We want someone who can bowl in the middle of the innings. Besides, Danish is a specialist wrist spinner who has the ability to take wickets. We want someone who cannot only bowl in the middle of the innings but can also get wickets for us," he said.
Kaneria has so far played 10-one-dayers in which he has taken nine wickets at 42.44.
Inzamam said Shahid Afridi would continue to open the innings because the wickets suit his style of batting and that he can be more destructive on top of the order.
Sami, who has struggled to find the form and rhythm that until 18 months ago earned him the reputation as one of the most promising fast bowlers, had figures of 8-0-42-0 and 9-0-65-1 in the first two one-dayers.
He has picked up 99 wickets at 27.89 in 68 one-dayers but his career best five for 10 was 15 months and 29 games ago when he carpeted New Zealand at the Gaddafi Stadium. In the last 20 one-dayers, he has taken 22 wickets.
Inzamam hoped Younis Khan's return would provide Pakistan the stability and depth that lacked in the first two games.
"He is a man in form and I feel that had our top order lasted 50 overs, we would have won both the games. I hope Younis's return would give us a more experienced middle-order.
"I don't think Younis will bat at number 3 and we will persist with either Abdul Razzaq or Shoaib Malik, depending on the situation. Younis will bat at number 5 or 6," Inzamam said.
Younis was undoubtedly the player of the three-Test series with 424 runs at 84.80 that included a career-best 267 at Bangalore.
