Pakistan are set to make a late decision on whether Umar Akmal will be fit to take over wicketkeeping duties from under-fire brother Kamran Akmal for the World Cup clash against Zimbabwe.

Umar Akmal, 20, has been unable to train since Thursday because of a finger injury and is a major doubt for the Group A match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, where Pakistan can qualify for the next stage with a win.

Kamran Akmal had been tipped to lose his place following his awful display in the defeat to New Zealand when he twice dropped Ross Taylor who went on to make an unbeaten 131.

"We haven't taken a decision (on Umar Akmal) yet," Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam said in The News.

"The thing is that he bruised his right index finger two days back and it is painful which is why he can't wear the keeping gloves."

Alam denied suggestions Umar Akmal was feigning injury to help his brother.

"It is a genuine problem. He did bruise his finger and though there is no fracture the pain is there," Intikhab said.

However, Intikhab admitted that if Umar Akmal fails to recover, then Pakistan would have no choice but to stick with Kamran Akmal.

"In such a scenario, we won't have any other choice," he added.

Asad Shafiq is set to replace Ahmed Shehzad as opener for the game.

Aside from that 110-run defeat to the Black Caps last time out, Pakistan have won their other three games in the tournament against Kenya, Sri Lanka and Canada.

Their opponents Zimbabwe still have a faint chance of making it through to the last eight, despite losing three of their opening four matches.

They need victory over Pakistan to keep those chances alive, though, which looks unlikely given their last two performances, a 139-run loss to Sri Lanka and a 10-wicket defeat to New Zealand.