Mohali: Pakistan suffered a big blow before their crucial group match against New Zealand here on Tuesday when experienced batsman Mohammad Hafeez became a doubtful starter with a knee problem.
The Pakistan Cricket Team media manager announced in a press release that Hafeez had bone contusion/edema in the right knee and there was also minimal amount of fluid in the knee joint.
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"Hafeez complained of pain in the right knee a couple of days ago. He was administered physio treatment several times but the pain didn't subside. On examination he was suspected to be having a strain of one of ligament in his right knee. He was sent for an MRI immediately after arrival in Mohali from Kolkata. The MRI report received today revealed bone contusion/edema in the inter-condylar region of the femur," the release said.
It said that Hafeez would be further inspected on Tuesday, but it is unlikely that he would be able to take part in the match against Black Caps.
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Hafeez was Pakistan's top scorer in the first match against Bangladesh scoring a half century but was sent into bat at number seven in the match against India on Saturday.
Meanwhile left arm fast bowler, Wahab Riaz is also a doubtful starter after he was accidentally hit by a ball on a throw at his left temporal region above his ear the fielding practice.
The release said that after CT scans were conducted as a precautionary measure and it was confirmed that Wahab had suffered no fracture but he is being kept under supervision of the team doctor and physio overnight in his hotel room.
"His fitness to feature in tomorrow's fixture shall be decided by Tuesday afternoon," the release on Monday said.
