Pakistan T20 preparations hit by injuries

LAHORE The Pakistan cricket teams campaign to retain the World Cup T20 title have been hit hard with injuries to their key bowlers. Reports coming from the camp training suggested that pacer Umer Gul has not recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained during the camp training and is an unlikely starter for the ICC T20 World Cup to be played in the West Indies later this month. Another doubtful starter for the big event is Yasser Arafat, who pulled his calf muscle and has not recovered to join the camp trainees. However, T20 captain Shahid Afridis desire to have players like Shahzaib Hassan and Mohammad Sami in the team is getting on track with injuries to these two players. Both Gul and Arafat stayed away from camp and the former has been struggling for quite sometime. It was surprising why Pakistan Cricket Board announced the team so early when the other countries named teams just day ahead of the deadline. Gul was believed to have recovered when he joined camp two days ago but his injury aggravated and the chances are that he would not be part of the team for the World Cup while Arafat, who was picked for a good county season too is to miss the big chance. Afridi when made captain said that he was not part of the team selection and had he been asked he would have picked Sami and Shahzaib and with injury to these two players, the chances are that the captain would lure his desired players in the team. However, the other injured players, Afridi himself and Umer Akmal has started their training sessions with the team. Younus in a fix over future course of action Former captain Younus Khan is finding it hard to decide whether to move court or file an appeal against the Pakistan Cricket Board for the ban imposed on him for an indefinite period. Younus had earlier sent a notice to the PCB asking it to give reasons for the ban but the Board directed him to file a formal appeal. Younus had met his lawyer Ahmed Qayyum and they would decide in a day or two whether to file a petition in court or lodge an appeal against the ban with the PCB. Younus has signed all concerned documents and his case is very strong but we have to look at the issue from many angles. That is why we are taking our time to decide on whether to go to court or file an appeal with the board, Qayyum said. 'Ban on 'Kaneria could ruin England' If Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who is under the scanner for match-fixing charges and being quizzed by the Essex Police on the issue, is found guilty of the match-fixing charges and banned this summer, the implications for English cricket would be financially disastrous. Pakistan is scheduled to play two Test series in England, after they were moved from Pakistan due to security concerns in the country. Relations between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been cordial since the forfeited Oval Test of 2006, but speculations are rife over the implications if Kaneria is publicly accused of wrong-doing in England. Moreover, its the broadcasting deals in which the ECB will lose millions of dollars if the series are cancelled.

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