Pakistan replace injured Junaid Khan with Rahat Ali ahead of World Cup
Thursday 5 February 2015 13:03, UK
Pakistan have called up Rahat Ali for the World Cup as a replacement for injured pace bowler Junaid Khan.
Rahat has been a Test regular in recent months, but his only one-day international appearance to date came in June 2012.
Bilawal Bhatti replaced Junaid, who has a hamstring injury, during the recent series against New Zealand but conceded 93 runs from his 10 overs in Napier this week, and as a left-arm seamer Rahat is a like-for-like swap.
"Rahat has been included in the World Cup squad on the recommendation of touring chief selector Moin Khan," a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said.
The International Cricket Council's technical committee must now approve the change ahead of the tournament, which begins on February 13.
Junaid's absence is the latest blow to a Pakistan side already missing injured seamer Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal, their first-choice spin bowler who was suspended last September pending remedial work on his bowling action.
Watch the World Cup live on Sky Sports, starting on February 13.
