Pakistan loses opener Hafeez ahead of World Cup
Print Edition
PAKISTAN opener Mohammad Hafeez was yesterday ruled out of the World Cup after suffering an ankle injury, in yet another blow to the team.
The 34-year-old suffered the injury during the second one-day international against New Zealand in Napier last week and has been advised to take three weeks’ rest. “Hafeez has been ruled out of the World Cup and will return home with the first available flight and in his place Nasir Jamshed has been summoned,” a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said.
The latest injury is the fourth major blow for Pakistan before the 14-team World Cup which starts in Australia and New Zealand on February 14.
Paceman Umar Gul was not selected because of a knee injury in January, while another fast bowler Junaid Khan had to be withdrawn from the 15-man squad after he failed to recover from a leg injury.
Spinner Saeed Ajmal withdrew from the squad after he failed to correct his bowling action which was deemed illegal last September, although the International Cricket Council said on Saturday he had been cleared after retesting.
Ajmal may well be in line for a late World Cup call-up but the 37-year-old can only be added to Pakistan’s squad if an ICC technical committee rules that an incumbent squad member must be replaced because of a legitimate injury.
Pakistan plays its first match against India in Adelaide on February 15.
World Cup organizers yesterday accepted India’s request to include seamer Mohit Sharma in place of pace spearhead Ishant Sharma, who was ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury.
The World Cup’s technical committee had agreed to make the change in the defending champion’s 15-man squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the International Cricket Council said in a statement.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
