Pakistan-Bangladesh series: Sohaib Maqsood ruled out as training camp begins

Rain delays in camp, recurrence of fracture, chance for new kid to shine

KARACHI: Pakistani middle-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood was Tuesday ruled out of the Bangladesh tour with an arm injury, with uncapped leg-spinning all-rounder Saad Nasim named as his replacement in the one-day squad.

The 27-year-old Maqsood had a mediocre World Cup with 153 runs in six innings and was criticised for his lack of fitness during the showpiece event, won by Australia.

He was considered lucky to be named in the one-day and Twenty20 squad for the tour of Bangladesh announced last week. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Maqsood fractured his left arm.

Read: Pakistan-Bangladesh series to start from April 17

His replacement Nasim was already named in the Twenty20 squad so there will be no replacement for Maqsood in that squad.

Pakistan will play three one-day internationals, one Twenty20 and two Tests in Bangladesh with the first ODI in Dhaka on April 17.

Pakistan finished as losing quarter-finalists in the World Cup during a campaign marred by fitness and discipline problems.

Read: Ajmal back in all three formats for Pakistan

Eight players including Maqsood were fined for breaching curfew hours while pacemen Junaid Khan and spinning all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez were ruled out due to fitness problems before the Cup started.

Pakistan also lost paceman Mohammad Irfan due to a hip injury before their last group game against Ireland.

Meanwhile, the first day of the training camp was also marred by rain intervals. The camp is scheduled to be held till April 11. After that, Pakistan team will leave for Bangladesh on April 13.