Pakistan tear away Mohammad Asif has been ruled out of the first three one-dayers of the five-match series against India due to a long-standing elbow problem, it was announced by the board Thursday.
"He felt pain in the elbow after the Multan ODI (against South Africa, Oct 26). We don't know the extent of the injury," Cricinfo quoted Shafqat Naghmi, the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chief operating officer, as saying.Asif, 24, missed four of the five ODIs in the recently concluded series against South Africa because of the right elbow injury. "He may be fit enough to go to India after three matches so we haven't yet announced a replacement as there are four fast bowlers in the squad anyway," Naghmi added.
Asif's career has been plagued by this elbow injury and last year, he missed three Tests against England. The problem arose during the tour to South Africa in January this year. "It is not something that happens a lot. Surgery will not resolve it, nor will medicine. He just needs to strengthen the muscles around the elbow area," Naghmi said.
Naghmi also added that fitness trainer David Dwyer has devised a rehabilitation program for Asif. "Dwyer will observe Asif closely. This is a problem the player himself knows about first. If he feels fit he will go to India as soon as possible," he said.
Source-IANS
LIN/C
