SHARJAH: Under-strength Pakistan received further blow yesterday when frontline paceman Junaid Khan (pictured) was ruled out of the ODI and two-Test series against Australia after injuring his knee in practice.
Pakistan are already without off-spinner Saeed Ajmal who was last month suspended from all international cricket for an illegal bowling action.
Last week all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez suffered a hand injury which forced him out of the limited-overs series.
Pakistan lost the only Twenty20 match by six wickets in Dubai on Sunday and started the three-match one-day international (ODI) series with a 93-run defeat in Sharjah on Tuesday.
Junaid, 24, twisted his knee in practice and, after an MRI scan, was advised to rest for up to six weeks, team manager Moin Khan said. “Junaid injured a cartilage in his knee during nets on Monday and after an MRI he has been advised a four-to-six-weeks’ rest,” said Moin.
“He will receive treatment back home,” said Moin. “It’s another big blow to us as he is one of our best bowlers in one-days and Tests.”
Pakistan have added left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir to replace Junaid in the one-day squad.
Tanvir was part of the Twenty20 squad but wasn’t played in team’s six wicket defeat in Dubai on Sunday.
Australia have also added left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty to their squad to replace Mitchell Marsh who was ruled out of the full tour with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, Struggling Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq denied shedding weight has caused him to lose form, saying he and his team needed just one good innings to restore confidence.
Misbah, 40, shed 10kg (22lb) during a fitness camp in June this year but has since struggled at the crease scoring just 67 in the 2-0 Test defeat against Sri Lanka in August.AFP
