I'm afraid it was not to be so.
According to the latest reports, Yasir Hameed
will indeed be sent back to Pakistan because otherwise the squad limit would be exceeded...
Malik was unstoppable today. His performance today again shows how important a player he is for Pakistan, even as a mere batsman. I do wish though that the ICC would clear his action as soon as possible because otherwise the balance of the team is disturbed.
Zainub,
Four players in the current squad can opener: Butt, Akmal, Hafeez and Afridi.
Yes, they are no specialists, bar one, but at least two of them are very much capable of fireworks (and more). I agree that Hafeez is a burden on the squad, if only Malik could bowl! But Akmal performed well as an opener even in Australia and I am sure he can do so here as well. And Afridi has of course been in blazing form. He will most probably be played somewhere at positions 6-8 but Afridi as an opener is a good option because the pitches will be flat and there won't be too much swing to trouble Afridi early on.
Did anyone see the match live though? Who was more impresive today - Shahid Nazir or Rao Iftikhar?