Monday, August 16, 2010

Pakistan lose injured Zulqarnain

Third Test, The Oval: England v Pakistan
Dates: 18-22 August Start time: 1100 BST
Coverage: Live ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio 4 Long Wave and BBC Sport website; live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles; Also live on Sky Sports, with daily highlights on Five


Zulqarnain Haider
Zulqarnain's injury could lead to an early reprirve for Kamran Akmal

Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider will miss the remaining Tests against England because of a broken finger.

Kamran Akmal will replace the 24-year-old for the third Test, which starts at The Oval on Wednesday.

A Pakistan Cricket Board statement said Zulqarnain had a hairline fracture and needed three weeks to recover.

There have been reports that Pakistan hold England's Stuart Broad responsible for the injury after he threw the ball at Zulqarnain during the second Test.

"This is what Zulqarnain told us, but obviously keepers have sore fingers all the time," said team-mate Imran Farhat.

Zulqarnain top-scored with 88 in Pakistan's second innings at Egbaston after registering a golden duck in the first.

606: DEBATE

But he was struck by Broad's throw during his innings - an incident which led to the pace bowler being fined half of his match fee by International Cricket Council referee Ranjan Madugalle.

He described Broad's action as "unacceptable" and said that international sportsmen had to "control their emotions".

Farhat insisted that Zulqarnain, who was examined by a specialist in London, was "very keen to play" at The Oval, with his side 2-0 down in the series.

That decision may be taken out of his hands by team management but whatever the decision about the keeper's fitness, Farhat insisted there would be no repercussions.

"This was all about frustration, but they sorted it out. There are no hard feelings," he told BBC Sport.

England batsman Jonathan Trott played down the incident, saying that Broad had "taken his punishment on the chin and moved on".

He added: "I was at deep square leg so I didn't really see much. It's just one of those things. Unfortunately, it happened but it's water under the bridge really for us."

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