Pakistan allrounder Yasir Arafat has been ruled out of the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies later this month due to a calf injury, the captain Shahid Afridi has confirmed. Arafat was anyway in doubt when the training camp began in Lahore last week.
“Yasir Arafat is out because of the calf injury,” Afridi told the News. “He was not fit, after which we had to take a decision.”
Though a replacement hasn’t been named yet, Afridi suggested that they may draft in a batsman, Shahzaib Hassan
Re: Great News: Injury rules Arafat out of World Twenty20
How's this great news? Yasir Arafat is a pretty good allrounder, handy with both bat and ball, and lots of county experience.
And it's funny that they're dropping Yasir even though his injury will heal in 10-12 days, but keeping Umar Gul whose injury will require 6 weeks to heal.
Bad luck Yasir. I was also against his selection in the T20 squad but still I would not call it great news but a blessing in disguise for us. Regardless of Yasir's past performance (which has been mediocre) the fact is that we didn't need anymore allrounder in the team in presence of Afridi and Razzaq. We also didn't need any bowler in presence of Asif, Gul, Aamer and Ajmal. In my opinion Pakistan will never play these 4 bowlers together during the world cup and have to drop one of them.
Bottom line, there was no slot for Yasir Arafat in that sqaud. Shahzaib was one player who really deserved it and I will be glad if he can get in. Now I am hoping if he can somehow replace Salman Butt.
Unfortunately for Yasir. I think he would not have played a role in the starting 11 as we have 3 all rounders. Afridi/Razzaq/Mohammad Hafeez. He has great county experience but I think he hasnt been given an extended run in the Pakistani colors do make an impact.
I think Shahzaib would be great because his selection surely means that Salman Butt will never feature in the T20 WC. Afridi wants Shahzaib in the team, as he had mentionied before. So I think we would have a good combination, hopefully we wont have to see Salman Butt & Khalid Latif feature in the playing 11 of this T20 WC.
Re: Great News: Injury rules Arafat out of World Twenty20
I am so glad he's out. Wish him all the best with his health but Yasir plz stay out of playing cricket for the national side. You are only a good county player.
How's this great news? Yasir Arafat is a pretty good allrounder, handy with both bat and ball, and lots of county experience.
And it's funny that they're dropping Yasir even though his injury will heal in 10-12 days, but keeping Umar Gul whose injury will require 6 weeks to heal.
Like fkhan said, not great news but a blessing in disguise.
People praying for Butt's injury, that is not needed. I have enough faith in Afridi as a captain that we won't even be seeing Butt as the 12th man.
Afridi has already made it clear in more than one interview that Kamran will be opening with Hafeez with Umer or himself will be coming at #3. Now if Shahzaib is drafted in the team as well, that makes it even better and the 0.001% chance that Butt had of taking any part in the WC has completely flew through the window.
