LAHORE, Feb 27: Pakistan’s experienced all-rounder Abdul Razzaq will miss the 2007 World Cup due to a knee injury he sustained on the last day of the training camp which concluded here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

A PCB spokesman said on Tuesday another all-rounder Azhar Mahmood would replace Razzaq in the World Cup squad, which is to leave for the West Indies from Karachi on Wednesday.

The spokesman added Razzaq was examined by the PCB doctor on Tuesday, before ruling him out from cricket for three weeks.

Meanwhile, Razzaq told Dawn that a ball hit his knee during the camp, adding he did not bother much. But he felt pain at night and reported to the doctor on Tuesday for a check-up. “I am extremely dejected after knowing the doctor’s ruling as only one day before the departure I heard the sad news," he said.

The injury problem to Razzaq must have deepened Pakistan’s crisis ahead of the mega event as the squad is yet to receive the confirmation of two other fast bowlers — Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who are also on the injury list.

Meanwhile, Azhar, who received favour of lady-luck second time this year, said he was mentally ready for the departure (to the West Indies) because as a reserve player he had been training at the camp with a hope to receive a call at any time.

Azhar stated that the fitness problems with Shoaib and Asif had pushed him to focus on his training as the team could need him at any time.

Azhar was not included in the early list of 30 World Cup probables sent to the ICC by the selectors. But his good performance in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Silver League for Islamabad this season nudged the selectors to send him to play in the five-match ODI series in South Africa.

Though his performance was not up to the mark, the chief selector sent his name to the ICC as one of the World Cup probables, withdrawing the name of Shabbir Ahmed.

Azhar was one of the five reserves announced for the World Cup, but the luck again blessed him, giving him a chance to represent Pakistan again in the World Cup.