Injured Clarke in race to be fit for Pakistan

Australia captain Michael Clarke was Monday in doubt for next month's one-day series against Pakistan as he recovers from a hamstring injury, said chief selector Rod Marsh

Sydney: Australia captain Michael Clarke was Monday in doubt for next month's one-day series against Pakistan as he recovers from a hamstring injury, chief selector Rod Marsh said.


Michael Clarke 

The 33-year-old, who has a catalogue of hamstring trouble, broke down in a one-dayer against Zimbabwe in Harare on August 31 and returned home from the tour early.

He is under treatment in a bid to prove his fitness for the two-Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, which starts in Dubai on October 22, followed by a second Test in Abu Dhabi from October 30.

Clarke was also selected Monday for the three-game ODI series against Pakistan, starting on October 7, but coach Rod Marsh cast doubt on whether he would be fit. "No. Not confident," Marsh told reporters when asked about Clarke's chances of playing in the ODIs.

"You can't be confident about Michael." However Marsh added that Clarke had proven to be a durable player over his 105-Test career. "He's only missed one (Test) in over a hundred," Marsh said.

"He's got a great track record of getting up for Tests. "I'm sure he'll be right because there's no more dedicated bloke in getting his rehab in than Michael.

"He will not want to miss any Test matches, even if that means he has to miss some one-dayers and I'm not suggesting that.

"Being named in the one-dayers, not only named but he's captain, and he'll try desperately to be ready for them. Whether or not he will be, I don't know."

Pakistan have been forced to play their home series at neutral venues, such as the UAE, since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.

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