Pakistan grapple to get batting order right

With none of the senior players keen on batting at the number three slot, the Pakistan cricket camp is in a quandary over who to send in the crucial position during the second Test against New Zealand starting on Thursday in Wellington.

According to sources in the team, even Misbah-ul-Haq, who has been rushed to reinforce the team in New Zealand, is not keen to play at the number three position.

"Who will bat at number three has become a big talking point in the team meetings as now Faisal Iqbal has been asked to play at this position but even he is not keen to play at number three," one source said.

The number three position has been left vacant after Younus Khan pulled out of the tour.

Younus, who was replaced as captain by Muhammad Yousuf, has been playing at the number three position in Test matches for the last few years with considerable success and scored a triple hundred in Karachi this year against Sri Lanka.

"The problem has arisen because neither Yousuf himself or Shoaib Malik are willing to volunteer to play at number three and now even Misbah and Faisal are uncertain about taking up this responsibility," the source said.

Pakistan tried young Fawad Alam at this position in the first Test in Dunedin but he failed and the team also lost the match.

The source said coach Intikhab Alam is also frustrated with the situation but can't force any of the senior players to play at the spot.