Pakistan's Irfan forced out of World Cup
Giant Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan was ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup on Tuesday because of a hip injury, the country's cricket board announced.
The 32-year-old Irfan suffered the injury before the Pool B clash against Ireland in Adelaide on Sunday and missed the game which Pakistan won to secure their place in the last-eight.
The injury is a major blow to the 1992 champions' chances of defeating four-time winners Australia in the quarter-final at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
"Irfan underwent an MRI scan on Monday afternoon and the radiologist’s report showed a stress injury of the pelvis but was inconclusive," said a PCB release.
Brad Robinson, the Pakistan team's physiotherapist, ordered a more detailed scan, which was carried out Tuesday afternoon, and it reconfirmed a stress fracture in the pelvis.
“This injury rules Irfan out of the World Cup," said Robinson.
Pakistan team management will not immediately ask the selection committee back home for a replacement player, but will wait until the result of Friday’s quarter-final.
Irfan, at seven-feet one inch, the tallest man to play international cricket, took eight wickets in the five matches he played at the World Cup.