Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Younus set to miss Windies match

ICC Champions Trophy, South Africa
Venues: Centurion and Johannesburg Dates: 22 September - 5 October
Coverage: Live text commentary on England matches, India v Pakistan, both semi-finals and the final on the BBC Sport website and mobiles; live scorecards and reports on all other games

Younus Khan
Younus Khan led Pakistan to Twenty20 success in June

Skipper Younus Khan could sit out Pakistan's opening Champions Trophy match against a depleted West Indies in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Younus hurt his finger in a warm-up game so Shahid Afridi is set to take over as captain for the Group A match.

Paceman Mohammad Asif could play after a one-year doping ban ended on Tuesday.

Stars Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo have been left out of the West Indies squad because of a dispute over pay.

Their inexperienced side recently lost Test and one-day series to Bangladesh and sacked coach John Dyson.

However, skipper Floyd Reifer insists his players are capable of putting on an impressive performance in South Africa.

In one-day cricket, we should not think that we can win easily against any team

Shahid Afridi

"I want the people in the Caribbean to know that this is a West Indies team that is dedicated to the West Indies cricket. This is not a second-string team," he said.

Pakistan, who won the World Twenty20 in England in June, feel confident enough to consider leaving Younus out of their side.

"It is most unlikely that he will play. He will start practising from Wednesday and I am sure he will be ready to play against India in the next match," said coach Intikhab Alam.

"The injury is not serious. It's a hairline fracture. He is a strong person and does not want to miss a match."

Afridi said they would not underestimate the West Indies, despite their weakened line-up.

"Our team is good in bowling and batting. It is a balanced team and one of the best one-day sides, but I don't take any team lightly. It is our first match of the tournament," he said.

"In one-day cricket, we should not think that we can win easily against any team. There have been examples when big teams have lost.

606: DEBATE
Will Pakistan miss Younus?

"After winning the Twenty20 World Cup this year, there are a lot of expectations from us. We are very keen to win this competition."

Pakistan have yet to decide whether they will change their side to accommodate the 26-year-old Asif.

Younus, speaking before news of his injury broke, said: "He is coming back after one year and it's not an easy thing to do.

"We don't expect him to take five or six wickets the moment he plays international cricket, it's not fair."

India and defending champions Australia complete the Group A line-up, with two teams advancing to the semi-finals.

Pakistan (from): Younus Khan (capt), Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umer Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul Hasan, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif, Rao Iftikhar, Saeed Ajmal

West Indies (from): Floyd Reifer (capt), Darren Sammy, David Bernard, Tino Best, Royston Crandon, Travis Dowlin, Andre Fletcher, Nikita Miller, Kevin McLean, Kieran Powell, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Devon Smith, Gavin Tonge, Chadwick Walton.

Umpires: Steve Davis (Aus) and Daryl Harper (Aus)

TV umpire: Simon Taufel (Aus)

Match referee: Javagal Srinath (Ind)

ะพ 8:38 AM

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