Bazid's selection indeed smacks of nepotism. Let's be honest. Majid Khan was a class act but his son isn't anything special. A fifty in his last one-day innings against lowly-rated Bangladesh is hardly anything to write home about and should not have persuaded the selectors. Rao 'oh I am so lucky' Iftikhar Anjum is just about decent in one-dayers though not an out and out wicket taking bowler. Sohail Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed and Khurram Manzoor should count themselves unlucky to miss out. Khurram who made a fifty in his only ODI appearance (v Zimb) to date is perhaps a more organised batsman than Nasir Jamshed. Nasir needs to have some patience if he is going to succeed at this level. Tullah baazi won't necessarily work against better teams.
Akmal's inclusion only makes sense if the selectors and the captain have decided to play him as a batsman. It is not a given that he will open. If they are going to bat him at 6 or 7 it would have been better to replace him with Sarfraz who is a better keeper and can strike a few lusty blows as well.
The selectors it seems have already decided on Salman Butt to hold up one-half of the opening partnership. Now they will move around Nasir Jamshed, Afridi, Chotu etc. for the other opening slot. Butt though needs to prove himself against good teams, his position should not be a given.
The Indians are hot favourites for me. It's all very well to hope for the best from your team but one must be a little realistic at the same time. On paper India are a far better outfit than our present team (koi shuk hee nahin iss mein) and they have also been doing well recently under Dhoni. Pakistan would need something special to beat them.