Pakistan cricket team on Thursday suffered a setback with speedster Mohammad Asif pulling out of the five match ODI series against India because of an elbow injury.
KARACHI: Pakistan cricket team on Thursday suffered a setback with speedster Mohammad Asif pulling out of the five match ODI series against India because of an elbow injury.
The Pakistan team is scheduled to reach Delhi on Thursday evening for the month long Indian tour which include five ODIs and three Test matches. But the team will be without Asif at least for the first part of the tour.
Pakistan Cricket Board is yet to make an official announcement on the matter and has not named any replacement for the injured pacer.
"Asif is not leaving with the team today due to an elbow injury. PCB will make an official announcement later during the day," sources in the board said.
Asif, though, is likely to join the team for the Test series starting on November 22.
Asif missed the ODI series against South Africa due to the same injury after breaking down while bowling in the second Test against South Africa at Lahore.
The bowler underwent an emergency MRI scan and the report showed that he needs further rest for the injury to heal properly.
Pakistan will play its first ODI in Guwahati on November 5.
Asif said last week in an interview that he needed a week more to recover from his elbow problem and bowl at his best.
"The doctors have advised Asif more rest to recover completely from his elbow problem. So he will not accompany the team for the one-dayers," a source in the PCB said.
The source said the board would make an official announcement by afternoon about Asif not going to India but was unlikely to name a replacement for Asif as the one-day squad was already packed with bowlers.
"We are hoping he will be fit for the three tests which start from November 22 as he is a key bowler for us," the source said.
Another source said Pakistan was also facing some issues with the fitness of pacer, Umar Gul who has been in good form in recent matches.
Pakistan, however, had fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar making a successful comeback to international cricket last week by taking four wickets in the final one-dayer against South Africa in Lahore.
Shoaib returned after serving a 13-match ban for indiscipline.
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