Coach Bob Woolmer today made it clear that injured fast bowlers like Shoaib
Akhtar and Mohammad Asif would have to prove their fitness to retain
their places in Pakistan's World Cup cricket squad.
Woolmer said the team has been badly hit by injury worries ahead of next month's
mega event in the West Indies but those writing off Pakistan were making a "big
mistake".
The World Cup campaign of Pakistan, who lost the Test and one
day series in South Africa recently, has been thrown into jeopardy
with fast bowlers Akhtar, Asif and Umar Gul still facing fitness problems.
Woolmer after taking charge for World Cup preparations after
returning from South Africa said, "It is like we have burnt our boats and
we have to just play to our best ability with the available team." Woolmer
said he would meet Pakistan Board officials and doctors to find out the
fitness
positions of the fast bowlers but would not like to take risk with any injured
player.
"Obviously, we would like to have our first string bowling
attack. We have a conditioning camp and time before the World Cup to get our
bowlers in top shape," he said.
"I don't think we have performed that badly in South Africa.
We had our chances despite a depleted bowling attack but we couldn't capitalise
on them. It will be a mistake to write us off," he said.
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