Sohail Khan’s injury adds to Pakistan’s woes

SYDNEY: Pakistan were hit by a fresh World Cup injury scare on Monday when fast bowler Sohail Khan was sidelined by a calf problem during a warm-up game against Bangladesh.

The 30-year-old, a surprise inclusion in the squad, bowled six overs and took one wicket before he walked off the field at Sydney’s Blacktown Olympic Park Oval.

Although the injury is not thought to be serious, it comes after frontline pacemen Umar Gul and Junaid Khan were forced out with knee and thigh problems respectively.

On Sunday, opener Mohammad Hafeez also withdrew from the 15-man squad with an ankle injury as fitness problems mount for the 1992 champions.

“Sohail suffered a cramp in his calf muscle and as a precaution he did not bowl after six overs,” said a team media officer.

“He can still run without any problems and we hope he will be fine soon.”

Pakistan’s bowling stocks are being severely tested after Gul was ruled out before the squad was announced and Junaid Khan had to withdraw later.

Star spinner Saeed Ajmal’s remodelled action was declared legal on Saturday but the ruling came too late for his inclusion in Pakistan’s squad.

Paceman Rahat Ali and opener Nasir Jamshed have been given late call-ups and will join the squad on Wednesday.

Pakistan will play another warm-up game, against England, on Wednesday, before opening their World Cup campaign against arch-rivals and defending champions India on Sunday.

Saeed ajmal adding two new delivries

Lahore: Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has revealed that not only has he remodelled his action to legally bowl again in international cricket, he has added two new deliveries to his armoury and hinted he could return to Australia for the Big Bash League next summer.

In an exclusive chat with cricket.com.au, Ajmal also revealed the reasons behind his decision to opt out of playing for Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 despite still being the World’s No.1 ranked one-day bowler.

“I withdrew my name from the World Cup squad because I felt I was not at my best yet and I didn’t want to play as second fiddle to anyone,” Ajmal said from the National Cricket Academy here.” I have always wanted to be leader of the pack and played cricket as a front-line bowler and will continue to do so in future as well. I would have featured in the World Cup if I wanted to play but I opted against it as I didn’t want to be a burden on the team. Now that my action is cleared I will work more on my bowling. I have already started playing club cricket.Pakistan’s next bilateral series is still three months away and I will have gained significant improvement by the time Pakistan plays the next series.”

The off-spinner underwent the ICC’s strict biomechanical testing January 24, but only learned he hadpassed the tests and been cleared to resume his international career Saturday. He celebrated with friends and close family in his hometown of Faisalabad, a three-hour drive away from Lahore.

Ajmal could make his return to the national team during a planned tour of Zimbabwe before a likely bilateral series against arch-rivals India later this year. When he does, he says he will bringing all his old tricks in a new action, as well as a few new ones.

“The ICC has cleared my five different bowling varieties, including the doosra,” Ajmal said. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015:

“I will bowl all of my varieties and trouble batsmen with them. While serving the suspension and remodelling the action I have added two more varieties in my bowling arsenal. I can now also bowl seam up and for it I am thankful to Mohammad Akram who worked with me on it.

“The other delivery I have learned is the carrom ball, which works like doosra. Carrom ball is a lethal delivery in the death overs to counter batsmen’s slog shots, especially under the recent changes in ICC laws which don’t allow more than four fielders outside the circle.”

DUBAI: International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday approved Nasir Jamshed inclusion in Pakistan World Cup squad on replacement of injured Muhammad Hafeez.

DUBAI: International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday approved Nasir Jamshed inclusion in Pakistan World Cup squad on replacement of injured Muhammad Hafeez.

Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shaharyar khan Talking to newsmen in Lahore on Sunday, he said that Nasir Jasmshed will not be able to play match against India as his replacement is yet to be formally accepted by the International Cricket Council.