Opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez has returned home after suffering a calf injury amid dismal performance in the Test series against England. Hafeez will undergo rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy. The fast bowler, Mohammad Irfan has replaced Hafeez and joined the team in England. "Hafeez was diagnosed with a minor strain when he complained about pain in his left calf," PCB sources in told Business Recorder.
Earlier, it was planned that Hafeez will stay in England to undergo intensive rehabilitation, but the PCB management decided that there was no point in retaining him with the team. Hafeez scored only 102 runs in six innings of the Test series before being dropped for the series decider at The Oval. He struggled to score 11 runs off 15 balls in the first ODI at the Ageas Bowl which was comfortably won by England.
Irfan, who was dropped from the squad, had been called to play the three ODIs after approval of the national selection committee. Irfan, 34, was originally overlooked in favour of Umar Gul, by the newly appointed chief selector, Inzamam-ul-Haq with 12 wickets in nine ODIs in the previous 12 months. It may be noted that the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-provincial Co-ordination has also taken notice of the team management sending Mohammad Hafeez back from the UK when he was not suffering from any serious injury.