The Pakistan team management in England has decided against calling up a replacement bowler for the injured Umar Gul who suffered a hamstring injury during the second Test against the hosts on Sunday.
The Pakistan team management in England has decided against calling up a replacement bowler for the injured Umar Gul who suffered a hamstring injury during the second Test against the hosts on Sunday.
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Pakistan lost the second Test by nine wickets at Edgbaston to trail in the four-match series 0-2 but the team manager Yawar Saeed insisted there would be no replacement for Gul.
"We have two back up pace bowlers Tanvir Ahmed and Wahab Riaz in the touring squad and either one of them can replace Gul for the remaining Tests," Yawar said.
He pointed out that both the bowlers have been with the team since the start of the tour and were ready to replace Gul whenever required.
"The tour selectors will decide who will play but for now we are not asking for a replacement as Gul is also due to have another scan on August 18," he said.
The Pakistan manager said that after the fresh scan on August 18, it would be clear whether Gul can recover in time for the one-day series next month.
"Presently he has been advised rest for up to three weeks but we will know the correct position next week on how much more time his recovery will take," he added.
Although Gul is said to have raptured a muscle in his thigh while bowling in the England's first innings he batted freely albeit with a runner evoking remarks from commentators, who wondered how a player suffering from a hamstring injury was able to play pull and hook shots so easily.
The Pakistan touring squad presently includes 17 players. Chief selector Mohsin Khan and Pakistan captain for the ODIs and Twenty20 Shahid Afridi were also due to fly to England during the third Test to finalize the squad for the limited-over series.
Gul, one of Pakistan's leading performers on what has been a disappointing tour so far for the team, also missed the T20 World Cup and Asia Cup tournaments earlier this year due to an elbow injury.
Among the two probable replacements, Tanvir has not played a match for Pakistan as yet while Wahab, a left-arm pacer, has featured in a few one-day internationals.
Both bowled well in the last domestic season. Pakistan will take on England in the third Test from August 18 at The Oval.
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