Imran replaces Sohail for Bangladesh Tests

KARACHI: Pakistan´s injury setbacks continued Tuesday as paceman Sohail Khan was ruled out of the Test series in Bangladesh and was replaced by another fast bowler Imran Khan, an official said.

Sohail, 30, suffered back spasm two days before the team´s departure and was initially ruled out of the ongoing three-match one-day series.

On Tuesday the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced he would not recover in time for the two-match Test series.

"After consulting with the PCB medical department it was confirmed that Sohail has still not been able to recover sufficiently so the selection committee was unanimous on Imran as replacement for him," chief selector Haroon Rashid was quoted as saying in a press release.

Imran, 27, played three Tests against Australia and New Zealand last year and took seven wickets.

Pakistan have been badly hit by injuries on the current tour with batsman Sohaib Maqsood also ruled out before the tour started because of an arm injury.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah meanwhile injured his thumb in a practice match in Bangladesh, while paceman Ehsan Adil suffered a hamstring injury.

Shah will remain part of the Test squad, but Adil will return home.
Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar replaced Shah and Umar Gul replaced Adil for the one-day series.

Pakistan trail the three-match series 2-0 with the final match in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Another paceman Rahat Ali was also sidelined with a hamstring injury but the team management said he is expected to recover for the two Test series.

The first Test starts in Khulna from April 28.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said Monday he was unhappy over the spate of injuries. He said he would be questioning the team management over the issue and wanted to know why half-fit players were selected for the tour.