Saeed Ajmal likely to miss opening Test against New Zealand
Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal is most likely to miss the opening Test against New Zealand after the sad demise of his father. Ajmal’s father died on Tuesday while the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand gets underway in
Hamilton on Friday, January 7, 2011 and it may not be possible for the cricketer to make it to the first Test against the Kiwis.
"He is devastated by the sudden death of his father who expired after being taken to hospital, complaining of fever in the cold weather," a PCB official told the media reporters on Wednesday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said that necessary arrangements have been made by the board to assist the off-spinner in his return to Pakistan to attend the funeral ceremony of his father. Ajmal was part of the Pakistan team that played
a three-day tour game against New Zealand Cricket XI which ended in a draw on Tuesday. He, however, did not bowl in the second innings of the warm-up match.
The 33-year-old right-arm off-break bowler from Faisalabad made his Test debut in July 2009 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 and has played in nine of Pakistan’s 17 Tests since then. In these nine Test appearances, Ajmal has picked up 33 wickets
at an average 39.72 with best innings figures of 5 for 82.
He was expected to be part of the playing XIs of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in the opening Test of the two-match series but the sudden death of his father made him rush home. The only other spin option left with the tourists is the 30-year-old left-arm
orthodox bowler Abdur Rehman.
Abdur Rehman had his Test debut in October 2007 and has so far played four Test matches claiming 20 wickets at a bowling average of 39.45.
The visitors have already made one change to their squad for the Hamilton Test by bringing in fast bowler Sohail Tanvir after the board declared him fit after re-evaluating his form. Tanvir was struggling with a chronic knee injury
and was replaced with Asad Shafique.
Pakistan’s squad for the six-match one-day series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 has not yet been announced. The Pakistan Cricket Board was expected to announce the players along with the preliminary World Cup squad but the board only declared
the 30-man preliminary World Cup squad on Tuesday and is expected to announce the one-day squad for New Zealand series next week.
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