Two Pakistani cricketers leave for New
Zealand
KARACHI, March 5 (AFP) - Pakistan Monday rushed young batsman Faisal Iqbal
and rookie pacer Fazle Akbar to join its injury-plagued cricket team in New Zealand,
a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said.
``Iqbal and Akbar have left for New Zealand this evening and will join the team
before the first Test,'' PCB director of operations Brigadier Munawwar Rana said.
Pakistan will play host New Zealand in the first of the three Test series at Auckland
starting March 8.
Experienced batsman Ejaz Ahmed is leaving on Wednesday but he will miss the first
Test.
Pakistan team's injury woes deepened after key players Wasim Akram, Saeed
Anwar and Azhar Mahmood were ruled unfit for the Test series and will return home
in the next few days.
Demon pacer Shoaib Akhtar had already returned home after his hamstring injury
recurred and his bowling action was questioned for the second time.
Vice captain Inzamam-ul-Haq will stay in New Zealand where he is recovering from
groin injury and may play in the second Test.