KARACHI, 16 February 2007 — Pakistan named discarded opener Salman Butt yesterday among five reserve players for next month’s World Cup in the West Indies.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said pacers Mohammad Sami and Shahid Nazir, all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider and Butt had been placed on the reserves list.
“If we require any replacements in the selected 15-member squad they will come from these five players, not the remaining players on the shortlist we have submitted to the International Cricket Council,” said director of cricket operations Saleem Altaf.
All participating countries in the World Cup were required to submit names of 30 players before announcing their final squads and reserves.
Pakistan have fitness problems with fast bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif in their World Cup squad announced this week.
The Pakistan team returns today from South Africa after losing the Test and one-day series with all the players due to undergo dope tests the same day.
“Shoaib (Akhtar) is also returning from London on Friday. He will also have the dope tests the same day,” said Altaf.
Akhtar had gone to London to consult specialists about a knee problem which threatens to rule him out of the World Cup.
Symonds Warned of
World Cup Injury Risk
In Sydney, Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds has been warned of the risk he takes going into next month’s cricket World Cup as he recovers from surgery for a bicep injury.
Symonds was this week included in Australia’s 15-man squad for the World Cup in the Caribbean, although he said he would be unable to bat until well into the tournament.
Symonds, whose absence was sorely missed as Australia crashed to a stunning 2-0 loss to England in last weekend’s tri-series one-day finals, said he has earmarked the game against South Africa at Basseterre, St. Kitts on March 24 for his comeback.
Australian team doctor Trefor James said although a second tear (in the bicep) would not put Symonds out of the game for an extended period unless he chose to repeat the surgery, it would reduce the strength in his shoulder by about 10 percent.
Symonds is a valuable member of Australia’s one-day team, not only because of his explosive middle-order batting but because he is perhaps the best fielder in the world, with a lethal, flat throw from the outfield and inside the circle.
“There is a small risk of re-injuring it and, obviously, the longer it is left, the less the risk becomes. There will always be some risk,” James told The Sydney Morning Herald yesterday.
Canada Hoping to Make
Waves at World Cup
In Toronto, even though Canada are rank outsiders for next month’s World Cup in the Caribbean, coach Andy Pick believes his side are capable of pulling off an upset or two.
“I’m happy that if we play our best game we will put a lot of pressure on (Group C rivals) England and New Zealand because we have some good players,” the former Nottinghamshire bowler told Reuters in a telephone interview on Wednesday.
The other side in the group are Kenya.
“We are not focusing a huge amount on England or New Zealand, or Kenya for that matter,” said Pick. “The only thing we can possibly do and have a certain amount of control over is how we play.” To qualify from the group would be a “massive, massive success,” said Pick.
He added that Canada would take a lot of confidence from a recent win over Kenya in a tri-series tournament in Africa. “Kenya is a big game for us and we would like to come out on top in that one,” said Pick.
“If we lose the other two, so be it.” Canada start their campaign against Kenya in St. Lucia on March 14.
