Adding injury to insult: Crisis worsens as Misbah, Gul, Bhatti out

The skipper has been retained but Yasir Shah and Anwar Ali come in

KARACHI: Pakistan’s injury crisis continues to worsen with every passing second as skipper Misbahul Haq has been ruled out for at least the third ODI against New Zealand at Sharjah. Umar Gul and Bilawal Bhatti also join the skipper on the treatment table and have been ruled out of the remaining three ODIs against New Zealand.

Misbah has gone through an MRI scan on his hamstring injury and has been retained until his medical report comes. All-rounder Shahid Afridi had to lead the side, when Misbah walked off the field in the second ODI which Pakistan lost by six wickets.

Gul breaks down

The selection committee and the team management had been praying that the trio of pacers making their comeback — Gul, Muhammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz — do not break down on the tour. While the Irfan and Riaz have emerged unscathed from the first two ODIs, Gul has not been as lucky.

The 30-year-old pacer, who had regular complaints of a knee injury, could only manage two outings, the first in the second T20I and the second in the first ODI.

Meanwhile, Bhatti injured his right hand in a practice session and required stitches.

Pakistan are already without frontline pacer Junaid Khan and are struggling to find their best bowling combination owing to the plethora of injuries and the suspensions to Saeed Ajmal and Muhammad Hafeez.

Anwar Ali and Yasir Shah in

“With fitness issues ruling them out for the duration of the next three ODIs, Gul [left tendon] and Bhatti [right-hand webbing] are being sent back home for recovery and rehabilitation, and fast-bowler Anwar Ali and leg-spinner Yasir Shah have been called up in their stead,” said chief selector Moin Khan.

Moin added that he hopes Anwar, who is also handy with the bat, will be able to fill in the void left by Gul’s untimely departure.

Yasir was one of the outstanding performers during the five Tests against Australia and New Zealand but was not included in the initial ODI squad but has now been called up. Moin believes that the bowler has all the capabilities to be a good prospect for the upcoming World Cup.

“With all-rounder Anwar coming over, our strength in pace will be restored, while Yasir has performed very well in recent matches and his presence would give our attack a well-rounded look,” said Moin. “The leggie is also a good prospect for us for the World Cup, so the added exposure would do him a world of good. Despite fitness issues dogging many key players, I am positive that the team will perform to its potential in the remaining three ODI games.”

Fined for dissent

It went from bad to worse for Misbah as he was fined 15% of his match fee for showing dissent at an umpire's decision, while Kiwi bowler Adam Milne was also reprimanded for using obscene language.

ODI squad for the remaining three matches

Misbahul Haq (C), Sarfraz Ahmad (Wk), Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Younis Khan and Zulfiqar Babar.

 

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