Talha out of England series; Pakistan ponder two changes

Osama Tariq January 24, 2012 0

Talha out of England series; Pakistan ponder two changes

ABU DHABI: A spinal disc problem has forced Pakistan’s young fast bowler Mohammad Talha out for the remainder of the Test series against England in the United Arab Emirates, The Sports Encounter has leanrt.

Team management told local media here Monday that Mohammad Talha, 23, who is still waiting for his chance to play Tests for Pakistan will have to return home owing to injury and no replacement would be called.

Naveed Cheema, team manager for Pakistan, told media, “Talha developed back problem and in the MRI scan it was revealed that he has a disc problem and when his pain subsides in the next two three days he will return home”.

Talha would require at least ten to twelve days of rest to get better, Cheema added.

In his recent performances, Mohammad Talha grabbed four wickets against England XI while representing Pakistan Cricket Board XI in the warm-up match prior to the ongoing Test series. The England XI had won the three-day match by a comfortable margin of 100 runs.

Mohammad Talha has only played one Test match in his career so far and that lone playing opportunity came in 2009 in Karachi against Sri Lanka and has been travelling with the Pakistan cricket team as selectors and former cricketers regard him as a future fast bowling icon for the country.

Meanwhile, sources have disclosed that Pakistan is likely to make two changes in their side for the second Test starting from January 25, 2012 in Abu Dhabi.

Asad Shafiq and Aizaz Cheema are the two players who might be left out as team management is pondering over including hard-hitting middle-order batsman Umar Akmal and left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan for the second Test.