Pakistan chief selector Qasim quits

Kamran Akmal could captain Pakistan in Friday's Twenty20 game in the absence of Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf

Iqbal Qasim has resigned as Pakistan chief selector after Australia followed up their Test whitewash with a 5-0 clean sweep in the one-day series.

Qasim stepped down in the aftermath of the two-wicket defeat in the fifth one-day international at the WACA yesterday.

"After the clean sweep in the Test as well as the one-day series in Australia, I don't think it is my moral duty to remain the chief selector," Qasim said.

"I am very disappointed, like millions of Pakistanis. As I am responsible for the selection of the team, I quit from my post.

"The selection committee, which I headed, did its best to select the best possible team for the Tests as well as for the one-day matches, but they did not live up to the expectations of the fans who are badly hurt."

Qasim’s resignation is the latest in a string of problems for Pakistan, who are without a captain for Friday's Twenty20 international in Melbourne.

T20 skipper Shahid Afridi is suspended after his bizarre bite of the ball yesterday, while Test and one-day captain Mohammed Yousuf is already on his way home with a knee injury.

Younus Khan, controversially left out of the Test series, has retired from T20 internationals, meaning wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal could find himself in the hot-seat.

It would be an extraordinary set of circumstances for Akmal, who was dropped from the third Test in Hobart after a horrible performance behind the stumps in the Sydney Test.

Pakistan, without a chief selector, have three days to find someone who can appoint a captain, and then appoint a captain.

It is the latest of a series of farcical moments on the tour of Australia, including Afridi's unsubtle attempt at ball-tampering yesterday when he bit into the ball late in a tight contest, for which he received a two-match ban.

Travis Birt, seen here batting for an all-stars side, may line up alongside Brad Haddin and skipper Michael Clarke at the MCG

But such turmoil is nothing new for the Pakistan Cricket Board, who have now had three chief selectors in the space of 12 months.

Meanwhile, Australia have named uncapped duo Travis Birt, who played for Derbyshire in 2007, and Steve Smith in a 13-man squad for Friday’s game.

Tasmania batsman Birt, 28, boasts a strike rate of almost 130 in the domestic Twenty20 competition, while 20-year-old New South Wales all-rounder Smith looks to be an exciting prospect for the future and was included in an Australia Test squad during the summer.

Michael Clarke will lead the side despite missing yesterday's game, while Cameron White assumes the role of vice-captain.

Queensland fast bowler Ryan Harris, who took 13 wickets in three matches against Pakistan, has been included along with Victoria seamer Dirk Nannes and South Australia paceman Shaun Tait.

Opening batsman David Warner has been selected along with Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Elsewhere, the WACA pitch invader, 37-year-old David James Fraser, who tackled Pakistan's Khalid Latif to the ground in yesterday’s game, has been banned for life from attending cricket matches and fined Aus$500.