Gul, Arafat replaced by Sami, Irfan for T20 World Cup

LAHORE: Two changes have been made in Pakistan team for the Twenty20 World Cup as fast bowlers Umar Gul and Yasir Arafat are unfit. They have been replaced by fst bowlers Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Irfan.

Captain Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis said it is disappointing that Umar Gul and Yasir Arafat could not recover from their injuries.

The coach and the captain of the national team told at a news conference that Umar Gul and Yasir Arafat failed to recover from their injuries and have therefore been dropped from the squad.

Both players, reeling from injuries for the last two weeks, have been replaced by fast bowlers Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Irfan.

Waqar said Sami and Irfan would be included in the 15-man squad before their departure for the West Indies next week.

Gul suffered a shoulder injury and Arafat a knee injury during the training camp for the tournament.

The coach said that no prediction can be made regarding T20 cricket but he is hopes that his team would display good performance in the tournament.

Captain Shahid Afridi said that Umar Gul would greatly be missed in the championship. However, he said that Mohammad Irfan’s talent has impressed him very much.

The captain said that he has a big responsibility as captain and of course there is immense pressure on him but he is very hopeful for the team’s good performance.

The training camp continued for three weeks at the Gaddafi Stadium during which areas of fielding, physical fitness, running between the wicket and avoiding extras were focused.

The selectors deeply reviewed the bowling of Umar Gul and Yasir Arafat on the last day of the camp but both bowlers could not pass the fitness test.

The Pakistan team will leave for the West Indies via London on April 24 to participate in the World T20 Cup, commencing on April 30.

Australia and Bangladesh are also included in the pool of Pakistan, who are defending champions.