Pakistan call up Ali to replace Junaid at WC
Pakistan have called up fast bowler Rahat Ali to replace injured paceman Junaid Khan in their 15-man squad for the upcoming World Cup, which starts in Australia and New Zealand on the 14 February.
Ali is a surprising call-up as he was not selected in the 30-man preliminary World Cup squad, and the last time he represented Pakistan in an ODI was, on his debut, in June 2012.
Junaid was ruled out of the global tournament after failing a fitness test on a thigh injury this week. It comes a hammer blow to Pakistan as they are already without ace spinner Saeed Ajmal, who pulled out of the tournament to continue work on his remodeled bowling action.
Left-armer Ali has some international experience having played in 11 Test matches, picking up 31 wickets at an average of 36.67. He has played in 28 List A matches, taking 29 wickets at an average of 37.13.
Pakistan is in Group B alongside South Africa, India, West Indies, Ireland, Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates, with their first match of the tournament against arch-rivals India on the 15 February at the Adelaide Oval.
Latest
-
NewsOllie Robinson and Dom Sibley get chance to push Test claims in County Select XI
The duo, who have 31 international caps between them, will be hoping to make an impression against New Zealand.
-
NewsEngland’s new dawn and Commonwealth Games – cricket’s summer highlights
The Hundred returns for a second season while India return to finish last summer’s Test series.
-
NewsZak Crawley ready to raise his game for England
The batter has made a modest start to the county season.
-
NewsZak Crawley rediscovers form as Kent’s clash with Northamptonshire is drawn
Crawley started the week averaging under 20 in this season’s LV= Insurance County Championship.
-
NewsIndia recall Cheteshwar Pujara for rescheduled Test against England
The 34-year-old has scored four hundreds in eight innings for Sussex this season.
-
NewsKeith Barker blows away Somerset to help Hampshire to victory
The visitors needed just one run in their second innings to seal victory.
-
NewsCraig Overton claims 400th first-class wicket in Somerset-Hampshire clash
The England seamer’s three-wicket burst left the contest delicately balanced at the halfway stage.
-
NewsThree positive Covid tests confirmed in New Zealand’s tour party
Batter Henry Nicholls, seamer Blair Tickner and bowling coach Shane Jurgensen will self-isolate for five days.
-
NewsZak Crawley outdone by Ben Compton as Kent start strongly at Northamptonshire
Opener Compton stole the show with an unbeaten 125.
-
NewsMark Wood admits frustration over slow progress from elbow surgery
Wood is targeting a Test return towards the back end of the summer.