'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.

Opinion

Editorial

Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...
Strange claim
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Strange claim

In all likelihood, Pakistan and US will continue to be ‘frenemies'.
Media strangulation
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Media strangulation

Administration must decide whether it wishes to be remembered as an enabler or an executioner of press freedom.
Israeli rampage
21 Dec, 2024

Israeli rampage

ALONG with the genocide in Gaza, Israel has embarked on a regional rampage, attacking Arab and Muslim states with...