CricketViewer.com

After losing several of their key players because of injuries earlier this summer, Pakistan are now facing further fitness problems after it was revealed that all-rounder Abdul Razzaq is suffering from a back problem following the Lord’s outing.

The Pakistan team manager Zaheer Abbas told ‘The News’ on Tuesday that Razzaq complained of a bad back after final day’s play at Lord’s where he stuck in with the skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq to help Pakistan secure a draw.

“Razzaq says he has a painful back after his final day’s outing,” said Zaheer who added that the all-rounder has requested the team management to rest him in the four-day game against Northamptonshire getting underway from July 20 at Northampton.

Zaheer said that Razzaq’s injury doesn’t seem serious and the player should be fit in time for the second Test at Old Trafford from July 27. Razzaq was among the three pacers Pakistan fielded at Lord’s and according to the coach Bob Woolmer, his bowling performance in the match was pretty good.

Razzaq, though, is not the only player who is unfit to play the four-day game at Northampton. With the mercury soaring in the thirties, Zaheer said that around five to six of the team players want to rest ahead of the Old Trafford Test. With just 15 players available for selection, the team management would find it difficult to have 11 willing boys for the match against Northamptonshire under the blazing sun.

Zaheer said that the team management might ask some of the discarded Pakistan players settled in England to fill in if they are unable to find enough players from their camp to play the four-day game.

“We might call players like (off spinner) Arshad Khan to come and play for us at Northampton,” said Zaheer. The Pakistan team reached Northampton on Tuesday.

Source:The News