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Pakistan drops `injured' bowlers

Pakistani cricketers Shoaib Akhtar, left, and Mohammad Asif arrive for practice at Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on Feb. 23. PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan's doping-tainted pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif yesterday were ruled out of the World Cup in the Caribbean as a result of injury.

Coach Bob Woolmer called the news a "huge blow" while captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said Pakistan would now travel to the tournament which starts on March 13 under "tremendous pressure."

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) denied the new-ball pair were withdrawn to save them from possible life bans if they came up positive for steroids in mandatory pre-tournament drugs tests.

"Akhtar and Asif are both out due to injury and we have decided to replace them with Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami," Pakistan chief selector Wasim Bari said.

"Their injuries will take another two weeks to heal so after consultation with Inzamam-ul-Haq we have taken the final decision," he said. "The Pakistan team is capable enough to deal with this critical situation."

Akhtar and Asif had both been having injuries reassessed in England. Akhtar is battling a knee and hamstring injury, while Asif has a recurrence of an elbow injury sustained last year.

There had also been uncertainty about whether the duo would take the doping tests ordered by Pakistan amid warnings by experts that they could still have steroids in their system.

In November, Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year after they tested positive for the steroid nandrolone. However, the bans were later overturned on the grounds that the men had taken the substance unknowingly.

"Their withdrawal has nothing to do with doping. They were due to feature in dope tests once they regained full fitness but for us the chapter is now closed," PCB World Cup spokesman Pervez Mir said.

"We did our best and waited because Inzamam wanted them in the team as they are our best bowlers. But reports of their injuries were not good and we could not have waited any more," said Mir, who represented Pakistan in the first World Cup in 1975.

"It is a huge blow," Woolmer told a joint news conference with Inzamam. "But their injuries would have taken more time and we couldn't wait any more."

"We now know where we stand. It is true that our chances have been hit badly by the absence of these two key bowlers but we will have to show the kind of spirit and team unity which can win us a big event like the World Cup," he said.

The Pakistani team were due to fly out to the Caribbean later yesterday. They play hosts the West Indies in the opening match at Jamaica on March 13.
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