Struggling to recover, Hafeez misses first day at skill camp

Published May 31, 2016
CHIEF selector Inzamam-ul-Haq giving batting tips to Shan Masood at the Gaddafi Stadium.—Online
CHIEF selector Inzamam-ul-Haq giving batting tips to Shan Masood at the Gaddafi Stadium.—Online

LAHORE: Despite being included in the short-duration skill camp for the upcoming England tour that started here on Monday, veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez had to skip the camp owing to his prolonged knee injury for which the player underwent a fresh MRI scan in Karachi.

Hafeez’s knee problem is fast reducing his chances of touring England where Pakistan would require experienced batsmen who can duly expect testing time against the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad on seaming tracks.

In all 21 probables, who were called to the skill camp here at the Gaddafi Stadium by the Inzamam-ul-Haq-headed national selection committee, reported on Monday except for Hafeez. The selection committee curtailed the original list of 36 probables who attended the boot camp that ended in Abbottabad recently.

An injury on the right knee has been troubling 35-year-old Hafeez for the last three months or so during which high-profile events of Asia Cup T20 and the World T20 were staged. After the World T20, the right-hander has not featured in any competitive cricket on domestic circuit, raising doubts about the seriousness of his injury.

According to some reports, though the result of Hafeez’s last MRI scan conducted in Lahore has indicated noteworthy improvement in his knee, the opener is still not completely satisfied with the functional ability of his knee and is complaining of pain.


Player undergoes fresh MRI scan on right knee in Karachi


LAHORE: Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq on the first day of the training camp.—Online
LAHORE: Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq on the first day of the training camp.—Online

Not taking any chances prior to the demanding tour to England and giving weight to Hafeez’s own word, the PCB doctors decided to send him to Karachi’s Aga Khan Hospital where he underwent another MRI scan on Monday. The result of the test is expected to be known within a couple of days.

Interestingly, in spite of the knee injury issue, the veteran of 47 Tests and 175 ODIs has been retained by the selectors who first named him for the boot camp and now for the skill camp too.

Hafeez, despite the injury, himself remains resolute to make a comeback. “I want to play cricket as soon as possible. This injury has not disheartened me,” said the batsman while talking to DawnNews.

Meanwhile, newly-appointed physiotherapist Shane Hayes joined the skill camp in place of Zimbabwean Brad Robinson who quit the job earlier this year. The Aussie physio was appointed in consultation with head coach Mickey Arthur, who is likely to arrive in Lahore in the first week of June after receiving Australian citizenship.

In the absence of Arthur, NCA head coach and former Test leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed conducted the camp.

With Arthur’s arrival expected in the first week of June, the Pakistan squad for the four-match Test series in England is likely to be announced on June 6.

Pakistan start their Test campaign in England at Lord’s on July 14. After the Test rubber, Pakistan are scheduled to tour Ireland to play two ODIs (Aug 18 and 20), after which Pakistan come back to England for a five-game one-day series and one-off T20. The long tour concludes on Sept 7.

Players who attended the skill camp on Monday:

Openers: Sami Aslam, Khurram Manzoor, Shan Masood.

Middle-order batsmen: Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Zakir, Akbar-ur-Rehman.

Fast bowlers: Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Sohail Khan, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil.

Spinners: Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar.

Wicket-keepers: Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2016

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