Pakistan's Akhtar, Asif out of World Cup

KARACHI, March 1: Pakistan's doping-tainted pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif on Thursday were ruled out of the World Cup in the Caribbean due to injury.Coach Bob Woolmer called the news a "huge blow" while captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said Pakistan would now travel to the tournament which starts on March 13 under "tremendous pressure." The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) denied the new-ball pair were withdrawn to save them from possible life bans if they came up positive for steroids in mandatory pre-tournament drugs tests.
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"Akhtar and Asif are both out due to injury and we have decided to replace them with Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami," Pakistan chief selector Wasim Bari said. "Their injuries will take another two weeks to heal so after consultation with Inzamam-ul-Haq we have taken the final decision," he said. "The Pakistan team is capable enough to deal with this critical situation." Akhtar and Asif had both been having injuries reassessed in England. Akhtar is battling a knee and hamstring injury, while Asif has a recurrence of an elbow injury sustained last year.
There had also been uncertainty about whether the duo would take the doping tests ordered by Pakistan amid warnings by experts that they could still have steroids in their system.
In November Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year after they tested positive for the steroid nandrolone, but the bans were later overturned on the grounds that they took the substance unknowingly.
"Their withdrawal has nothing to do with doping. They were due to feature in dope tests once they regained full fitness but for us the chapter is now closed," PCB World Cup spokesman Pervez Mir said. "We did our best and waited because Inzamam wanted them in the team as they are our best bowlers. But reports of their injuries were not good and we could not have waited any more," said Mir, who represented Pakistan in the first World Cup in 1975.
"It is a huge blow," Woolmer told a joint news conference with Inzamam. "But their injuries would have taken more time and we couldn't wait any more." "We now know where we stand. It is true that our chances have been hit badly by the absence of these two key bowlers but we will have to show the kind of spirit and team unity which can win us a big event like the World Cup," he said. The Pakistani team were due to fly out to the Caribbean later on Thursday. They play hosts the West Indies in the opening match at Jamaica on March 13. "This is not an ideal situation for us. We are leaving for the West Indies under tremendous pressure," Inzamam said. "But we have shown in the past that through team spirit we can overcome any crisis situation. Mohammad Sami and Arafat may not be as good as Akhtar and Asif but they'll try their level best to make up for the loss." He added: "We could not take the risk on Shoaib and Asif as the deadline was approaching. We had to take a decision. "It's up to the available players now to show their mettle so that we can achieve the best possible results in the World Cup."
courtesy:timesofindia