Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has been hit for six after selectors decided to leave him out of the party to face England in Dubai later this month.

There has been growing speculation that the under-fire coach would be relieved of his duties for overseeing the side’s humiliating 3-0 Test and 5-0 one-day series whitewash in Australia last month.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has ordered a six-man committee to question Alam, team manager Abdul Raqeeb and captain Mohammad Yousuf about the disaster Down Under.

Yet, despite the troubled trio facing an inquest this weekend, the PCB have denied Alam’s position is under threat.

“Alam is not sacked,” PCB chief operating officer Wasim Bari said.

“There is no decision on Alam’s future as yet, but it will be taken subsequently.”

The team have lurched from one crisis to another, with chief selector Iqbal Qasim having already resigned following defeat in Australia. He then refused to reverse his decision despite a request from the PCB.

Also omitted from the squad for the Twenty20 double-header at Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium is wicketkeeper and batsman Kamran Akmal.

The gloveman was heavily criticised for dropping several important catches against the Baggy Greens.

However, Bari tried to put a positive spin on the decision, saying: “Akmal is our main player and since we want to groom other players as well we have rested him.”

Shoaib Malik, sacked as captain in January 2009 after Pakistan’s 2-1 home series defeat against Sri Lanka, will lead the team for the matches on February 19 and 20.

Original Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi will be part of the squad, but won’t taste any action in the first match following a ban for biting the ball during the final ODI in Perth.

Ireland's Andrew White believes his side’s opening match against Afghanistan will be crucial in determining whether they can qualify for this year’s ICC Twenty20 World Cup.

Ireland, who beat Afghanistan by five wickets in a recent Twenty20 clash in Colombo, face a fascinating opening day clash against Nowroz Mangal’s side at Dubai Sports City today in the World Cup qualifier. And the Ireland captain says it is vital they win.  

“We know plenty about Afghanistan - we have played them a few times and they have got the better of us a few times as well.
“I think if we can win the first one then that will really help get us up and running,” he said.