Pakistan skipper outlines injury woes
Fast bowler Umar Gul will return home after failing to recover from a
back injury, adding to Pakistan’s fitness problems on the eve of the
crucial second Test against India here on Thursday.
Pakistan, seeking to avoid their first Test series loss in India in more
than two decades, were racing against time to find 11 fit players
following injuries and illness in their 15-man squad.
Pakistan’s last Test series defeat in India came in 1980. They trail 1-0
in the three-match series following their six-wicket loss in the opening
game in New Delhi on Monday.
Ace paceman Shoaib Akhtar is still recovering from a chest infection,
skipper Shoaib Malik from an ankle injury, and batsman Misbah-ul-Haq and
fast bowler Mohammad Sami from viral infections.
“We have too many fitness problems in the team at the moment. I felt
pain while jogging. I will have one more fitness test on Friday before I
decide anything,” said Malik, who was injured playing football after the
first match.
“Gul bowled at the nets, but he felt pain. He needs treatment and that’s
why he is going home. We need four specialist bowlers for a Test match.
I hope we might be able to manage it.”
Malik said Akhtar was still under treatment and it was too early to say
whether he would be available for the match.
Akhtar was the lone Pakistani bowler to trouble India in the opening
match as he finished with six wickets, including four in the second
innings. Gul has so far bagged 67 wickets in 16 Tests.
Pakistan now have only three fit bowlers — spinners Danish Kaneria and
Abdur Rehman, and seamer Sohail Tanvir, who has only played one Test.
“We have no option but to win this Test, but we are struggling with
fitness problems. These are difficult times for us. We just hope the
players will recover in time,” said the Pakistani captain.
“We have given options (for replacements) to selectors. It’s up to them
to decide who to send.”
India captain Anil Kumble vowed the turn the heat on the tourists,
saying his team would like to wrap up the series with a second
successive victory.
“It’s important for us to maintain the momentum we gained in the
previous match and turn the screws. It’s a great opportunity for us to
go 2-0 up and seal the series here,” he said.
“We have to perform up to our potential and ensure we gain a 2-0 lead.
There were a couple of areas where we could have done better in the
previous game, like we should have scored more runs in the first
innings.”
KOLKATA, Thursday, AFP |