Re: Pakistan Team - developments and news (merged)
Pakistan sends medical reports of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif to ICC
**RIZWAN ALI **
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan has asked the International Cricket Council to allow it to add two players to its World Cup squad after fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were ruled out with injury.
The request came as the Pakistan Cricket Board sent the medical report of Akhtar and Asif to the ICC. The PCB asked the game’s governing body to allow them to replace Akhtar and Asif with pace bowlers Mohammad Sami and Yasir Arafat to represent Pakistan in the World Cup.
Pakistan has suffered a twin blow ahead of the World Cup. Along with the injured Akhtar and Asif, all-rounder Abdul Razzaq was also ruled out after sustaining an injury to a knee during the training camp in Lahore.
In the medical report, medical experts said that Akhtar “complained of significant pain in the left knee and in the left hamstring muscles after bowling few overs late last month.”
An MRI of Akhtar “revealed evidence of loose bodies with several pieces of cartilage within the joint … there was some fluid within the joint as well.”
In view of above findings the medical commission advised Akhtar not to bowl unless he is re-examined by the commission in three weeks time.
According to the report, Asif had first complained of pain in his right elbow during Pakistan’s tour of England in July 2006, but after getting treatment back home he recovered.
“He started feeling the same pain again during the third test against South Africa and the pain was very severe,” the report said.
“Asif had repeated oral and injectable pain killers but continued playing the remaining matches of the (South African) tour. He was rehabilitated on coming back from South Africa … but developed the same pain while bowling during this (World Cup) camp.”
Asif has been advised to rest his right elbow for three weeks and also wear an elbow support.
Pakistan is placed in Group D along with host the West Indies, Ireland and Zimbabwe. It will play its first game against the West Indies on March 13 at Jamaica.
© The Canadian Press, 2007