JOIN USThe selectors have recommended the names of Mohammad Sami and uncapped Mohammad Irfan as their replacements, however, a final decision would be taken by the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt.
Chief selector, Mohsin Khan told reporters here that both Gul and Arafat failed to clear the final fitness test on Sunday.
“We have recommended the names of fast bowlers Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Irfan as replacements for the injured players. We have picked Sami from the list of five reserves we had kept for the World Cup,” he said.
Mohsin said the name of left-arm fast bowler Irfan was recommended by former pacer Aaqib Javed who had invited him to the national academy for some bowling session where he impressed everyone.
Arafat was ruled out with a calf muscle injury while Gul injured his shoulder during an extended training camp.
“Gul was thought to be recovering from a shoulder injury he picked up during a fielding drill, but medical assessments held over the weekend weren’t bright enough and the team management thought it would be risky to pick injured players,” Mohsin said.
Gul’s loss would be a major one for the side as he has been their leading wicket-taker in both the 2007 and 2009 editions of the World Twenty20.
His bowling in death overs was a key component of the team’s success in 2009, where he had recorded a maverick spell of five for six against New Zealand, sparking a turnaround in the team’s fortunes.