SYDNEY: Pakistan on Sunday called up Nasir Jamshed to replace fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez, who has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering an ankle injury, in yet another blow to the team before the mega-event.

The 34-year-old suffered the injury during the second One-day International against New Zealand in Napier last week and has been advised to take three weeks’ rest.

“Hafeez has been ruled out of the World Cup and will return home with the first available flight and in his place Nasir Jamshed has been summoned,” a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said here.

The latest injury is the fourth major blow for Pakistan before the 14-team World Cup which starts in Australia and New Zealand on Feb 14.

Paceman Umar Gul was not selected because of a knee injury in January, while another fast bowler Junaid Khan had to be withdrawn from the 15-man squad after he failed to recover from a leg injury and replaced by Rahat Ali.

Spinner Saeed Ajmal withdrew from the squad after he failed to correct his bowling action which was deemed illegal last September, although the International Cricket Council said Saturday he had been cleared after retesting.

“Hafeez has been advised two to three weeks rest by the doctors so he is out of the World Cup,” PCB spokesman Raza Kitchlew said in Lahore .

Raza said the tour selection committee has sought to replace Hafeez with 25-year-old opener Nasir Jamshed who has played 45 ODIs.

“A request with medical reports has been sent to the ICC technical committee for inducting Jamshed into the squad,” he said.

Hafeez, 34, has been one of Pakistan’s key player, having scored 4542 runs and taken 122 wickets in 155 One-day internationals.

Hafeez, who is not allowed to bowl because of his illegal action, was due to undergo an official bowling assessment on Feb 16 in Brisbane but another PCB official said it was unlikely that the player would undergo the test on that day.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2015

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