Major blow; Yasir misses fitness camp, cites knee pain

Ace spinner expected to report to doctors at NCA today


Our Correspondent May 15, 2016
Leg-spinner missed fittness test due to knee injury. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: Major stakeholders of the Pakistan cricket team are in for a minor scare as Test ace spinner Yasir Shah missed the opening day of the fitness camp in Abbottabad citing pain in his left knee just ahead of the crucial tour of England.

Yasir was earlier banned for three months by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after he tested positive for a banned substance. During the ban, the ace spinner put on some weight and when he returned to playing in the Pakistan Cup, he lacked the usual fitness.

The leg-spinner, who has taken 76 wickets from 12 Tests, has been asked to report to doctors at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore for precautionary scans.

Australian Tait replaces Hastings in IPL


“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked Yasir to report to doctors at the NCA so his medical check-up could be done and necessary scans carried out,” PCB Senior Media Manager Raza Rashid told The Express Tribune.  “We expect him to arrive either today or tomorrow and once he is here, the PCB medical experts would look into his case.”

It comes as a big blow to Pakistan as they were heavily banking on Yasir for the tour of England with the first Test taking place from July 14.

Yasir’s fitness troubles increase problems of the PCB who are already looking into the matter of obtaining the visa for Mohammad Amir, who will be making his first appearance on English soil since the spot-fixing scandal in 2010.

Dravid, Jayawardene join ICC committee


The PCB has also asked the England and Wales Cricket Board to assist in Amir’s case.

If Amir’s visa issues are not solved and Yasir also misses out on the tour, then Pakistan are in for an uphill task of trying to overcome the English in their own backyard.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2016.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.

COMMENTS (1)

Begistan | 7 years ago | Reply A team of fragile individuals who looks like kabaddi players but can hardly survive training.
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ