LAHORE: Fit-again paceman Mohammad Irfan will join the Pakistan squad for their one-day matches against Sri Lanka to reinforce the attack after their 2-0 Test series defeat, a board official said on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old, who holds the record of being the tallest-ever cricketer at seven feet one inch, will fly out in time for the first ODI in Hambantota on Saturday.
“The team management in Sri Lanka had asked for Irfan to join the squad considering the uncertainty over fast bowler Junaid Khan,” a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesperson told AFP.
Khan was hit on the head while hooking a delivery during Pakistan’s 105-run defeat in the second Test, which ended on Monday.
“The team management is assessing Khan’s fitness and will take a decision on retaining him or sending him back soon,” said the spokesperson.
Irfan injured a hip during the second Twenty20 international against South Africa in Dubai in November last year, and has since recovered without surgery.
He featured in a domestic Twenty20 tournament in February and felt no pain.
The lanky paceman has so far played four Tests, 27 one-day internationals and seven Twenty20 internationals.
Seven players — Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Anwar Ali, Sohaib Maqsood, Sharjeel Khan and Zulfiqar Babar — have already joined the one-day squad.
Sarfraz Ahmed, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Khurram Manzoor, Shan Masood, Rahat Ali and Abdur Rehman have returned after featuring in the Test matches.
Pakistan will play a one-day warm-up match in Moratuwa on Wednesday before the start of the one-day series.
The other two one-day internationals will be played in Colombo on August 27 and Dambulla on August 30.
