Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan was ruled out of the upcoming World Cup after failing to pass his fitness test, he said Monday.
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Junaid suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg after he slipped and fell while bowling during the third day of the national training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium before Pakistan’s departure for New Zealand.
“Junaid appeared in a fitness test and was not found fit enough to play the World Cup,” a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman said. Junaid was one of the senior bowlers in Pakistan’s pace attack, which includes Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, and up-and-coming Ehsan Adil.
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“I’m sorry I couldn’t pass the fitness test. But perhaps this was God’s will. My prayers are with the Pakistan team,” Junaid tweeted.
Sorry my ny teast pass nah keyah bass ahllah ko yah manzoor ta mary dua pak team k 7 hy
— Junaid Khan83 (@JunaidkhanREAL) February 2, 2015
The development comes as a big blow to Pakistan who are already without the services of the suspended Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez and the injured Umar Gul for the World Cup.
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Bilawal Bhatti, who replaced Junaid for Pakistan’s two-match series against New Zealand, is expected to fill his place in the World Cup squad as well. Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir and Azhar Ali, meanwhile, have been been put on stand-by by the touring committee and there is a possibility that Pakistan don’t opt for a like-for-like replacement. -dawn
