'Irfan expected to be fully fit for 2015 World Cup'

Published April 26, 2014
Irfan fractured his hip in Pakistan's T20 series against South Africa in UAE in November last year. -Photo by Reuters
Irfan fractured his hip in Pakistan's T20 series against South Africa in UAE in November last year. -Photo by Reuters

Pakistan fast bowler is expected to be fully fit for the 2015 World Cup after the hairline fracture in his hip completely healed, former bowling coach and present head of the National Cricket Academy, Mohammad Akram, said.

Irfan missed the Asia Cup and World Twenty20 due to a recurrence of his hip injury.

Lanky Irfan, the tallest ever man to play international cricket at 7 feet one inch, fractured his hip in Pakistan's T20 series against South Africa in UAE in November last year.

However, his recovery proved short lived when the injury recurred in a domestic tournament.

“He [Irfan] isn't available immediately for national selection as yet but we have made a plan for him ahead of 2015 World Cup,” Akram told ESPNcricinfo.

“We are targeting the ODIs against Australia and New Zealand for him later this year to give him the required tempo.”

The PCB will hold a month-long training camp from May 6 when there will be no international assignment and 30 players, including Irfan, are expected to be part of it.

Pakistan will tour Sri Lanka in July-August followed by series against Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe -- all likely in United Arab Emirates.

They will also tour New Zealand for a short one-day series before featuring in the World Cup to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

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