CricketViewer.com

Pakistan paceman Mohammad Asif and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez will reinforce the touring squad in England before the fourth and final Test at The Oval, London starting on August 17, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Sunday.

“They (Asif and Hafeez) will be joining the team in next few days and will be considered for the fourth Test and the one-day series,” the PCB Director Abbas Zaidi said.

Asif, who has taken 25 wickets in five Tests, returned home before the first Test of the ongoing series (at Lord’s) with an elbow injury. He has since recovered and passed a fitness Test on Friday.

Hafeez, 25, an opener and off-break bowler, has been called up after a string of good performances recently for the ‘A’ side against the hosts, New Zealand and India.

Hafeez last played for the senior team against India in April 2005 while the last of his last three Test appearances was against Bangladesh in 2003.

“Both of them will hopefully strengthen the side and give more options to the team management,” Zaidi said.

Pakistan have not only had to struggle with injuries to their key bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar, Asif and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan but also with their opening pair.

Pakistan have tried three different pairs in the three Tests in England so far with regular opener Imran Farhat being overlooked for the ongoing third Test at Headingley, Leeds because of a finger injury.

Source:The News

Capture the Conversation tells you what people are saying right now!

Share on Twitter | StumbleUpon | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook