Irreplaceable

Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq knows that the World Cup without Asif and Akhtar will be a big challenge

KARACHI: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq said on Friday that there were no “ideal replacements” for pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, in case the duo do not clear the dope test conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The team will undergo dope test today conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board ahead of the upcoming World Cup in Caribbean.

“Unfortunately we don’t have the ideal replacements for Shoaib and Asif. To make matters worse there is also a question mark over the fitness of Umar Gul,” Inzamam said after the team returned from South Africa this morning.

Inzamam, who saw Pakistan lose the Test and one-day series in South Africa, said the inclusion of leg-spinner Danish Kaneria would give strength to the bowling attack for the World Cup.

“But if we are without our main bowlers in the World Cup it will be a challenging situation for us,” he said. Inzamam also said that the team realised it had performed poorly in South Africa but insisted it had the capability of doing well in the World Cup.

“This same team can do well in the World Cup,” he said.