Hafeez ruled out of World Cup

In yet another blow to Pakistan, opener Mohammad Hafeez, on Sunday, was ruled out of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 after suffering an injury to his leg. The 34-year-old suffered the injury during the second one-day international against New Zealand in Napier last week and has been advised three weeks' rest. "Hafeez has been ruled out of the World Cup and will return home on the first available flight and in his place Nasir Jamshed has been summoned," a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman told AFP. Incidentally, the injury also forced Pakistan to reschedule Hafeez's official action test, originally scheduled for February 6th. The latest injury is the fourth major blow for Pakistan before the 14-team World Cup which starts in Australia and New Zealand on February 14. Paceman Umar Gul was not selected because of a knee injury in January, while another fast bowler Junaid Khan had to be withdrawn from the 15-man squad after he failed to recover from a leg injury. Saeed Ajmal, whose bowling action was cleared by ICC on Saturday, is another key absentee in Pakistan's squad Pakistan begin their World Cup with a clash against arch-rivals India in Adelaide on February 15.