LAHORE, Pakistan: The left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan is no longer the part of 15-member Pakistan team squad for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup after he failed to pass a fitness test on Monday.
The 25-year old cricketer from Swabi suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg after he slipped and fell while bowling in the nets during training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore on January 15.
Later, he was also ruled out of two-match one-day internationals (ODIs) series in New Zealand, and was replaced by all-rounder Bilawal Bhatti.
Junaid’s fitness tests were conducted at the NCA in Lahore today (Monday) to determine whether or not the pacer will be able to join the Pakistan World Cup squad in Australia. However, he failed to pass the fitness test.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t pass the fitness test. But perhaps this was God’s will. My prayers are with the Pakistan team,” Junaid wrote on his twitter account.
Sorry my ny teast pass nah keyah bass ahllah ko yah manzoor ta mary dua pak team k 7 hy
— Junaid Khan83 (@JunaidkhanREAL) February 2, 2015
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is being jointly held in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29.
It is likely that Bilawal Bhatti will continue to remain with the Pakistan team for the cricket world cup as well as Junaid Khan’s replacement.