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Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have both been ruled out of Pakistan's World Cup campaign due to injury, with Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami have been called up as replacements.
The pair were both struggling with injuries and had been in England for treatment, but the Pakistan Cricket Board have now say they have failed to prove their fitness and have denied that their omissions has anything to do with the doping scandal the pair have been involved in.
Shoaib, who has played just a single Test and four one-dayers in the past 12 months, has been sidelined by knee and hamstring problems, while a persistent elbow injury for Asif has ended his hopes of making the World Cup.
"Akhtar and Asif are both out due to injury and we have decided to replace them with Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami," chief selector Wasim Bari said.
"Their injuries will take another two weeks to heal so after consultation with (captain) Inzamam-ul-Haq we have taken the final decision.
"The Pakistan team is capable enough to deal with this critical situation.
"Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami will be sent as their replacements."
The loss of both their front-line opening bowlers is a huge blow for Pakistan's chances of going all the way in the West Indies, but coach Bob Woolmer is trying to stay positive.
"It is a big blow for us, but I am confident that Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami will live up to the expectations," Bob Woolmer said.
"They will join the team in a week's time and we hope to overcome our injury problems with a united team effort."
In November Shoaib was banned for two years and Asif for one year after they tested positive for the steroid nandrolone, but the bans were later overturned because they took the substance unknowingly.
The pair did not take the doping tests the rest of the squad underwent in preparation for the World Cup, but the PCB have dismissed suggestions that doping issues were behind them missing out.
"Their withdrawal has nothing to do with doping. They were due to feature in dope tests once they regained full fitness but for us the chapter is now closed," PCB World Cup spokesman Pervez Mir told AFP.
"We did our best and waited because Inzamam wanted them in the team as they are our best bowlers. But reports of their injuries were not good and we could not have waited any more."
Pakistan skipper Inzamam admits that the squad now have a tough task to cover the loss of their two strike bowlers, as they prepare to fly out to the Caribbean to face the West Indies in the opening match at Jamaica on March 13.
"This is not an ideal situation for us," Inzamam said.
"Mohammad Sami and Arafat may not be as good as Akhtar and Asif but they'll try their level best to make up for the loss.
"We could not take the risk on Shoaib and Asif as the deadline was approaching. We had to take a decision.
"It's up to the available players now to show their mettle so that we can achieve the best possible results in the World Cup."
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Source: Sky Sports |
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