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Pakistan have learnt that their latest pace prospect Sohail Khan is affected by an elbow condition not very dissimilar to the problem that has dogged their lead strike bowler Mohammad Asif in recent months.

Sohail, domestic cricket’s leading wicket-taker this season, was set to be named in the 15-man squad for the series against Zimbabwe but was overlooked at the last moment after the selectors were told that he has an elbow problem which prevents the player from throwing the ball properly.

“It is unfortunate that this talented youngster has this problem,” Nasim Ashraf, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, told ‘The News’ on Friday. “He (Sohail) doesn’t face any problem while bowling but he can’t just throw the ball properly after fielding it,” he said.

Ashraf, however, said that the PCB will help the pacer overcome this problem. “We will have a complete medical evaluation of his condition from our medical board and will then decide about the remedial measures,” he said.

Elbow problem is not a new issue for Pakistani cricketers as the current captain Shoaib Malik almost decided to quit bowling due to it. Mohammad Asif, the most exciting bowler to emerge from Pakistan in recent years, is currently on the sidelines after undergoing a key-hole elbow surgery in Australia.

Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said that the selectors are keeping their fingers crossed over the inclusion of Sohail Khan in the series against Zimbabwe. “We have just announced the squad for the first two matches and Sohail remains in contention for the last three one-dayers,” he said. —KH
Source:Cricket News