JOHANNESBURG, Feb 5: Pakistan’s opening batsman Saeed Anwar thought his World Cup was over before it had even begun after being hit by a swinging delivery from team mate Shoaib Akhtar.

Saeed, only just back into the team after a string of injuries, said on Wednesday: “I thought I was in real trouble — I thought the left elbow was broken. I was immediately sick and felt nauseous.

“It was a swinging delivery in the nets and reared up a bit off the surface. A few deliveries had already gone over my head. It was the most painful blow I have ever had.”

Saeed, in his third — “and absolutely the last” — World Cup, is still hoping to be fit for Pakistan’s opening Group ‘A’ match against Australia on Tuesday.

“I really want to play against the Aussies,” he said.

He was still icing the injury every two hours on Wednesday, two days after being struck and rushed to hospital.

The 34-year-old left-hander, the holder of the world record one-day score of 194, has just been recalled to the team after a long spell in the wilderness in an attempt to bolster Pakistan’s batting.

He has undergone knee and wrist surgery over the last year.

Shoaib, challenging Australia’s Brett Lee as the fastest bowler in the world, was unofficially timed bowling at 100.04mph (161kph) last year.

Saeed is not the first batsman to have his World Cup hopes endangered by a team mate. England spinner Ashley Giles almost missed the tournament after having his wrist broken by Steve Harmison in a net session in Australia in November.—Reuters