CricketViewer.com

Replacement players Mohammad Sami and Yasir Arafat were available to feature in Pakistan’s second pre-World Cup warm-up game against South Africa to be played at the Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in Trinidad today (Friday).

Sami and Arafat, who replaced injured fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, both joined their teammates one after the other helping Pakistan to finally gain full strength.

The Pakistanis had just 13 players to choose from for the practice game against Canada earlier this week as Sami and Arafat was included in the 15-man squad at the last minute.

Pakistan made the replacements after finding that Shoaib and Asif, members of the original World Cup squad, were unfit and both needed at least three weeks to recover.

The PCB decided to replace them with Sami and young all-rounder Arafat but sought the permission from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to bring them in only after getting complete medical reports of Shoaib and Asif.

The ICC’s World Cup Technical Committee took its time before clearing Sami and Arafat as new Pakistan squad members.

A source in the Pakistan team said that the team for the match against South Africa would be finalised after a meeting of the team management on Thursday night (Friday morning in Pakistan).

It is an important game for Pakistan who will have some idea of where they stand ahead of the World Cup opener against hosts the West Indies on March 13 at Sabina Park, Kingston (Jamaica).

They are without key strike bowlers Shoaib and Asif and would also miss the services of seasoned all-rounder Abdul Razzaq who fractured his knee in a practice session in Lahore last month.

The source said that the Pakistani management was planning for a good outing from their players against the South Africans who beat Pakistan 3-1 in a one-day series last month. The source added that the management would try out all the players expected to feature in the crucial Pool D game against the West Indies.

Meanwhile, security officials in Trinidad and Tobago have confirmed that there was an incident which has led to the temporary evacuation of hotel residents at the Hilton Trinidad where the Pakistani players are also staying.

Investigators are looking into the issue and forensic personnel are examining the location to obtain any further information as there was evidence of a discharged tear gas canister.

A number of persons were carried for medical assistance for eye, ear and nose irritation. There are no reports of any serious injuries. Further, none of the cricketers staying at the Hotel were injured. The South African, Pakistani, Irish and Canadian teams are all staying in the Hotel and are reported to be in good health.

According to a media release issued by the local authorities, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service have the situation fully under control.

The Minister of National Security, Martin Joseph announced he will update the public later on Thursday.

It is believed that the incident has nothing at all to do with Cricket World Cup. Investigations, however, are being undertaken to determine whether there was a link with the industrial action which was taking place at the Hotel.

Source:The News