Sarfaraz Ahmad returns home to be with his ill mother

Pakistan today suffered yet another blow ahead of the start of the five-match ODI series against Australia with wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmad returning home to be with his seriously ill mother.
Pacer Muhammad Irfan was also forced to return home yesterday due to the death of his mother.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to announce Sarfaraz's replacement for the ODI series but reliable sources in the board said that the selectors are talking to the team management to accept discarded wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, who last played a ODI for Pakistan in June 2013.
The national selection committee, headed by Inzamam-ul-Haq, had wanted to include Kamran in the original squad that was announced late last month but ODI captain Azhar Ali and coach Mickey Arthur were not in favour of having him.

Kamran, who has played 53 Tests and 154 ODIs, scored seven centuries in domestic cricket this season.
The selectors have already had to send two back-up and replacement players -- experienced allrounder Muhammad Hafeez and left arm pacer Junaid Khan -- to Australia on the request of the team management.

Junaid has been called up for Muhammad Irfan.
Pakistan will play the first ODI against Australia on January 13 at Brisbane.
Pakistan need to do well in the upcoming ODI series to avoid a further slump in the ICC ODI rankings. Presently they are place at a lowly eighth spot in the table.