Pelvis fracture rules Mohammad Irfan out of the World Cup 2015

Mohammad Irfan, the Pakistan pacer, has been ruled out of the rest of Pakistan’s 2015 World Cup campaign with a stress fracture in his pelvis.

Irfan underwent an MRI scan on Monday afternoon, but although the radiologist’s report showed signs of the injury, the reports were inconclusive. Brad Robinson, the Pakistan physiotherapist, insisted he be sent for a more detailed scan, which revealed the full extent of the injury on Tuesday.

“This injury rules Irfan out of the World Cup,” said Robinson in a release on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) website.

The news comes as a big blow to Pakistan, whose campaign has been marked by injuries right from the onset, with Umar Gul, Junaid Khan and Mohammad Hafeez all missing out because of fitness issues. Irfan, in the five matches he’s played in the competition so far, has picked up eight wickets at an average of 23.25, including a four-for against Zimbabwe that helped Pakistan squeeze out a much-needed 20-run win.

The bowlers have been at the heart of Pakistan’s remarkable turnaround in the tournament as they made it to the knockouts despite two early losses, and his exclusion leaves Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali and Ehsan Adil to carry out the team’s fast-bowling responsibilities.

The Pakistan management has decided against seeking an immediate replacement for Irfan, choosing to wait till the result of the quarterfinal encounter against Australia in Adelaide on Friday.

-By Wisden India