Pakistan’s Hafeez ruled out of the World Cup

All-rounder has failed to recover from a calf muscle injury, confirms the PCB, as Jamshed has been sought as replacement

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Hafeez has taken 122 ODI wickets for Pakistan [Getty Images]

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been ruled out of the World Cup with a calf muscle injury, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Hafeez, 34, has been one of Pakistan’s key player, having scored 4,542 runs and taken 122 wickets in 155 ODIs.

ODI record
  Hafeez  Jamshed 
Matches 15545
Runs45421413
Highest140*112
Wickets122
Best3-17

He became the second Pakistan player to miss the World Cup through injury after left-arm paceman Junaid Khan pulled out with a hamstringinjury and was replaced by Rahat Ali.

“Hafeez has been advised two to three weeks rest by the doctors so he is out of the World Cup,” PCB spokesperson Raza Kitchlew said before adding that 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.”

There is no news, however, on the inclusion of off-spinner Saeed Ajmal whose bowling action was cleared by the ICC.

Pakistan begin their World Cup campaign against arch-rivals India next Sunday at Adelaide.

India, meanwhile, will be without fast-bowler Ishant Sharma who was also was ruled out of the tournamet Cup with a knee injury.

He will be replaced by Mohit Sharma in the defending champions’ inexperienced pace attack.

Source: Reuters