Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif have been ruled out of World Cup 2007, ostensibly because of injuries. Speculation is rife, of course, that this may have more to do with a failed private dope-test than any injury-related issue. With Abdul Razzaq also out injured (knee), one would be pardoned for having a what-the feeling! Replacements for these three are Azhar Mahmood, Yasir Arafat and Mohammed Sami.
The team sheet reads:
Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Danish Kaneria, Iftikhar Anjum, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal, Yasir Arafat, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Yousuf, Naved-ul-Hasan, Shahid Afridi, Mohammed Sami, Shoaib Malik, Umar Gul
Unless Inzamam-Ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammed Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik play a couple of blinders through the tournament, I somehow can’t see this team doing well. If they do, I’ll be the first to eat humble pie!
– Mohan
