Pakistan wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed finally heads to Zimbabwe after visa delay

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed has finally flown to Zimbabwe for the Test series starting Thursday after much suspense was created over his departure by the Cricket Board.

With no visa available for Sarfraz according to the board, he was even told on Wednesday that he would not be going to Zimbabwe and instead Adnan Akmal would be going in as a replacement.

"Adnan was put on standby since he already has required travel documents complete because he has been selected in the test squad for the two matches in Zimbabwe," one source in the PCB said.

But late last evening, Sarfraz got his visa and was told to fly out to Harare via Dubai.

The drama surrounding Sarfraz started three days back when wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal was asked to return from the West Indies, where he was playing in the Caribbean Premier League, due to an epileptic fit on a flight.

Umar, the younger brother of Adnan and the experienced Kamran Akmal, finally reached Lahore on Tuesday but till yesterday, the PCB was unable to confirm what ailment he was suffering from.

The PCB was upset by the fact that the youngster had told reporters that he was completely fit and could play in Zimbabwe as he was originally selected in the Twenty20 and ODI squads.

But clearly the board has decided to take no chances with Umar's fitness and said he would be consulting neurologists for his condition.

"The PCB is arranging the appointment of Umar Akmal with neurologists to have a professional advice on his medical condition," the release said.

"It is one in a series of steps that PCB will be undertaking in assessing the medical problem that occurred to Umar Akmal while he was in West Indies," it added.