LAHORE, Pakistan: The Left-arm fast-medium bowler Rahat Ali has been included in 15-member Pakistan team squad as a replacement for the injured Junaid Khan for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
The decision to include Rahat Ali was taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shahryar Khan on the recommendation of Chief Selector Moin Khan.
The 26-year-old Rahat has played his only one one-day international (ODI) match against Sri Lanka two years ago in June 2012.
Earlier, the left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan was made part of the Pakistan’s World Cup squad; however, on February 2 he was ruled out of the mega event after he failed to pass a fitness test.
The 25-year old cricketer from Swabi suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg after he slipped and fell while bowling in the nets during training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore on January 15.
The national team have reached Sydney in Australia after playing two ODIs against New Zealand in Wellington and Napier. But Pakistan lost both the matches.
The 11th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is jointly being held in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29.
Pakistan will start their World Cup campaign with a highly charged match against arch-rivals and defending champions India in Adelaide on February 15.
