Clarke to miss series

Australia captain Michael Clarke will miss the limited-overs cricket series against Pakistan next month due to a hamstring injury that forced him home early from a recent series in Zimbabwe. Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said tests had confirmed “a significant hamstring injury” for the 33-year-old Clarke. “Importantly, the scans have demonstrated tendon damage which complicates the recovery from this injury,” Kountouris said. He remained hopeful that Clarke will be available for the two test matches against Pakistan starting Oct. 22. Left-hander Phil Hughes was drafted into the ODI squad on Wednesday to replace Clarke for the three limited-overs internationals in the United Arab Emirates starting Oct. 7. Hughes was initially left out of the squad for the one-dayers, despite scoring two half-centuries in four matches in the recent Zimbabwe tri-series, but was already scheduled to travel to the UAE earlier than the remainder of the test squad to work on his batting technique against spin bowling with coaching consultant Muthiah Muralitharan.
The 25-year-old Hughes has been in and out of the Australian set up since making his test debut in 2009, but has only played 24 ODIs since his debut in that format in 2013 and averages 37.31. He forced his way back into the ODI squad for the Zimbabwe after scoring two double-centuries in two weeks for Australia A against South Africa in July and August. Clarke, who has struggled in the past with a back problem, hurt his left hamstring last month and missed Australia’s first two games in the tri-series involving South Africa and Zimbabwe. He returned to play against Zimbabwe but retired hurt during his innings and, although he returned to bat and field, it was his only game of the tour. Clarke has been at the forefront of Australian team’s resurgence in the last 12 months and is likely to play an important role in the team’s preparations for the World Cup, which starts February in Australia and New Zealand. He averages 45 with the bat in 237 ODIs, including eight centuries and 56 half centuries, and was part of Australia’s World Cup winning team in 2007. He has had more success in the test arena, averaging 51.5 in 105 matches including 27 centuries and 27 half centuries.
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Afridi is T20 captain
Shahid Afridi will captain Pakistan in Twenty20s until 2016 while Misbah-ul-Haq will remain the skipper for the World Cup next year, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced. Afridi replaced Mohammad Hafeez, who stepped down after Pakistan’s unimpressive performance at the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh this year. Afridi has led Pakistan in 19 T20s from 2009-11, losing 11 and winning eight. He was captain when the team reached the semifinals of the World Twenty20 in the West Indies in 2010. He was removed as captain in 2010 after differences with the then-PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. “Afridi’s bowling is very good in Twenty20s and we should back him,” former captain Mohammad Yousuf told Geo Television. “He just needs to take the rest of his team-mates with him.” Afridi is the world’s third highest wicket-taker in T20s, with 77 wickets from 74 matches, eight behind top wicket-taker Saeed Ajmal, who was has been suspended for a suspect action, and six behind fast bowler Umar Gul. Misbah, 40, has captained Pakistan in 74 ODIs, with a win-lost record of 40-31. Pakistan is scheduled to play eight one-dayers and three T20s in the United Arab Emirates before the World Cup in February in Australia and New Zealand. It will take on Australia in a one-off T20 and three ODIs, next month, then two T20s and five ODIs against New Zealand in December.
Source- http://www.crictoday.com/news/196-slidenews/12670-clarke-to-miss-series.html
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