Sami, Rehman to replace injured players in T20 squad

Fast bowler Mohammad Sami and left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman have been included in the World T20 squad in place of the unfit seasoned fast bowler Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) overruled the choice of the little-known fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, announced by Coach Waqar Younis and Chief Selector Mohsin Hasan Khan before the media earlier on Sunday.



“The national selection committee headed by Mohsin Khan has recommended the names of Mohammad Sami and Abdul Rehman to replace the injured Umar Gul and Yasir Arafat for the ICC World Twenty20. The names have been approved by PCB chairman,” stated a short press release from the board on Monday.



The PCB, on Sunday, faced much embarrassment when head coach Waqar stunned everyone at a press conference by revealing that Sami and Irfan would be making the squad in place of the two injured fast bowlers.



In fact, both Yasir and Umar were still to appear before the medical panel on April 20 in order to clear their final fitness test, so no one was expecting the sudden announcement, especially about Irfan, who was not even included in the preliminary list of 30 probables.



Waqar’s announcement was endorsed by Mohsin as well. But then came a press release from the PCB, indicating that something was wrong as it stated that the changes would need the PCB chairman’s approval, who is the authority for giving the final nod in such instances.



Commenting on the new development, Coach Waqar told Dawn: “The names of Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Sami were recommended by the captain and myself while keeping our strategy in mind. But what can I do, they opted for Abdul Rehman!”



source(dawn News)

Pakistan’s campaign for their World Twenty20 title defence was dealt a blow on Sunday when Umar Gul was withdrawn from the squad.

Gul, and all-rounder Yasir Arafat had been reeling from injuries for the last two weeks and were replaced by fast bowlers Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Irfan.

“Umar Gul and Yasir Arafat failed to recover from their injuries and have therefore been dropped from the squad,” Pakistan’s coach Waqar Younis was quoted as saying by DawnNews.

Younis said Sami and Irfan will be included in the 15-man squad before their departure for the Caribbean next week.


Gul, Pakistan's most successful bowler in the Twenty20 format and their leading wicket-taker at the last two World Cups, has a shoulder injury and Yasir a calf problem.

“They are very good at this form of the sport and proven performers but we have to manage with the players we have available,” coach Waqar Younis said.

Gul was hopeful of recovering in time but coach Younis and chief selector Mohsin Khan insisted that no player will be part of the squad unless he is fully fit.

“We have recommended the names of fast bowler Mohammad Sami and another young pace bowler Mohammad Irfan to the board Chairman for final approval as replacements,” chief selector Mohsin Khan told reporters on Sunday.

With 43 wickets and best bowling figures of 5/6 (against New Zealand in the 2009 World Twenty20), Gul is a world-record holding bowler in the shortest format of the game.