No space for Gul, but Hafeez in WC squad

2015 World Cup

Cricket365
January 8, 2015

Pakistan have named all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez in their World Cup squad, despite his bowling ban, but there is no space for veteran fast bowler Umar Gul in the 15-man touring party.

Hafeez was banned late last year after testing showed he was breaching the ICC's elbow flex limit of 15 degrees, and recent unofficial testing showed that he had not rectified the problem yet. But his top-order batting ensured his place.

Gul was not as lucky though, and the selectors clearly felt his 0/49 in his most recent ODI, in December against New Zealand, did not warrant a full recall. Gul played only six ODIs in 2014.

Cracking the nod was veteran batsman Younis Khan, who at one stage had been dropped from the ODI set up, but made such a good return to form in the UAE that the selectors were left with no option but to pick him again.

There is also only one Akmal brother in the squad, with Umar edging out brother Kamran for a spot. The wicketkeeping brothers are often in competition, and this time Umar got the edge despite a poor series against the Kiwis.

Pace veteran Junaid Khan is also back in action after a long injury lay-off, while rookie spinner Yasir Shah has been added after his excellent efforts in the UAE against Australia and the Black Caps.

Squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Younis Khan, Harris Sohail, Misbah ul Haq, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz