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ISLAMABAD: Leg-spinner Yasir Shah is unlikely to be selected for the tour of England, scheduled to begin in July, due to injury issues.
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said the board had stopped Yasir from joining the training camp currently underway at the Pakistan Military Academy Kakul.
“Yasir has been suffering from a knee injury. He is feeling pain in his left knee, therefore, PCB has stopped him from joining the camp,” he said.
The official informed that the leg-spinner will report to the National Cricket Academy in the coming days where the doctors will assess and treat his injury.
He further said that chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq is most likely to announce the team at the end of this month after monitoring the performances of the players in Kakul.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to send the national team to England in June for a two-week training camp to acclimatise to the English conditions prior to the Test series that kicks off on July 14 at the historic Lord's cricket ground.
“The team will be going to England on June 14 or 15 for a two-weeks training camp. Pakistan team will train for two weeks at the Rose Bowl cricket ground in Hampshire, England,” he said.
Shah has been Pakistan's leading bowler in Tests in recent times and his participation was seen as key for the team's chances on the tour. He holds the number three spot in the International Cricket Council's Test rankings.
The leg-spinner has so far taken 76 wickets in 12 Tests. The leggie was phenomenal in 2015 and took 49 wickets which help Misbah's men jump to the second spot in the Test rankings.
Pakistan are scheduled to take on the hosts in four Tests, five One-Day Internationals and a T20 International.
Amir's Visa Woes
Speaking about pacer Muhammad Amir's visa for the England tour, the official said PCB will apply for the left-armer's visa in a day or two. “We are in touch with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the British High Commission and discussing his issue with them as he is a special case,” he said.
