“If Junaid recovers, he will join the World Cup squad”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan left-arm pace bowler Junaid Khan will miss the two-match ODI series against New Zealand due to a thigh injury he sustained while training last week.

Khan will be replaced by all-rounder Bilawal Bhatti and will be reassessed prior to the start of the World Cup.

“On re-examining Junaid’s condition, Pakistan’s physiotherapist Brad Robinson and PCB’s head of medical & sports sciences Dr. Sohail Saleem concurred that he had not recovered sufficiently from the traction injury of the nerve in the posterior right thigh and recommended recuperation at the NCA,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said. “Subsequently the left-arm fast bowler was withdrawn from the New Zealand tour.”

Pakistan’s chief selector Moin Khan added: “If Junaid recovers, he will join the World Cup squad. The chairman [Shaharyar Khan] has considered and approved the request of the skipper Misbah-ul-Haq to include Bilawal Bhatti in the team under the condition that Bilawal Bhatti will play all scheduled matches in New Zealand.

“The decision for his selection will be considered in accordance with his performance as to whether he may continue or be replaced. It is, however, clarified that if Junaid Khan regains fitness, he will join the World Cup squad as announced on January 7, 2015.”