Date-stamped : 20 Apr97 - 14:20 18 April 1997 Waqar gets injured; blow to Pakistan on tour Samiul Hasan COLOMBO (Sri Lanka), April 17: Pakistan has lost the key pacer for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka as Waqar Younis fractured his third bone in his left foot to be sidelined from the tour. Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram is already on the casualty list and is unlikely to figure in the first Test starting at Khatterama Stadium on Saturday to leave Pakistan without its two most dangerous and match- winning opening bowlers who between them share 538 wickets in 106 Tests. While Akram is suffering from a shoulder injury, Waqar Younis complained of pain in the foot on Thursday morning when he was undergoing work-outs for the second day's play against a local outfit. Dr Dan Keisal, team physiotherapist, immediately expressed his fears which were confirmed after the lunch break when Waqar Younis returned to the Police ground on crunches with his leg plastered from foot to knee. X-ray reports revealed a hair-line fracture in the third bone of the left foot with a four-week advice for treatment from the orthopaedic surgeon. Although Waqar Younis was as stunned as his other members knowing nothing about how he got injured, there were indications that the speedster slipped on the swimming pool while chasing his pal, Mushtaq Ahmad. The other version being given is that Waqar twisted his foot while bowling on Wednesday. Waqar bagged three wicket for 33 in 11.3 overs. The team manager, Nasimul Ghani and Mushtaq Mohammad, have sent an SOS for a replacement of Waqar Younis who is expected to return on Sunday by Air Lanka. However, the two concerned officials have yet to get in touch with PCB officials as everything is shut out for at least four days because of Friday's Eid-ul-Azha. Sources tipped Abdul Razzak and Fazl-i-Akbar as one of the likely replacements. One feels here that in the absence of Wasim and Waqar, an experienced bowler was needed and at this stage there is no other seasoned bowler like Aqib who snapped up 47 wickets in the domestic season. Nasim and Mushtaq maintained that they will inform the PCB that a replacement was needed. "We are not going to name a player. It's upto the PCB which player it rushes here," Mushtaq added. Nevertheless, a substitute is unlikely to reach here before Monday as the first available flight to Colombo is on the fourth day of the first Test. Waqar Younis, despite being advised a four-week rest, is optimistic that he would be fit in two weeks. "I will return next week and will then fly to England to join Glamorgan. I will take the rest of the treatment there. "It is just a hair-line fracture. Even if I am unable to play for four weeks, I will miss a few county games," added Waqar Younis. There is no good news about Wasim Akram as well. The skipper watched the warm-up game from the dressing room. He is yet to turn his arm over since his arrival with the team on Monday. "It is very bad. It pains a lot. I just can't move my arm," said Wasim Akram who has all but given hopes of playing on Saturday. "I don't think it is going to be better by Saturday. Nevertheless, I will officially inform The Management about his fitness on Friday. "It is a 10-90 chance against playing," said the pacer who also missed the two-Test series against New Zealand at home earlier this season. Akram's inability to make to the final eleven may be a blessing in disguise for Ramiz Raja who lost captaincy after losing the Test and one-day international series to the same opponents in 1995-96. Though Pakistan will be without Wasim and Waqar in the first Test, their absence should not be felt much because the Khatterama Stadium wicket is bald and might be more conducive to stroke-makers. Nevertheless, spinners might start getting help after the second day's play. Mushtaq Ahmad and Saqlain Mushtaq, like their pace duo, are considered to be one of the finest spin combination in cricket world today. But the two bowlers would only be able to make a match out of it if the batsmen put on a decent score on the scoreboard. There was little left to choose from the remaining 12 players and indications are that either Mohammad Wasim or Asif Mujtaba may perform the duties of carrying the towel. "I don't think much is left from which to form the first Test side. We will go with six batsmen, four bowlers and a wicketkeeper and that leaves a tie between Wasim and Mujtaba," Mushtaq Mohammad said. The Sri Lankans, on the contrary, have problems of their own and have decided to put off the announcement of the team for another day. Opener Roshan Mahanama injured his finger on Wednesday while batting in the nets while Sanath Jayasuriya's place is under severe threat from Russell Arnold who scored 140 the other day. Jayantha de Silva, the left-arm spinner, is, however, likely to pair with off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. The two slow bowlers excelled against New Zealand despite ending up on the losing side. TEAMS (likely): PAKISTAN: Ramiz Raja (captain), Salim Elahi, Ijaz Ahmad, Salim Malik, Inzamamul Haq, Asif Mujtaba, Moin Khan (wicketkeeper), Mushtaq Ahmad, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammad Zahid, Shahid Nazir. Mohammad Wasim 12th man. RI LANKA: Russell Arnold, Roshan Mahanama, Marvan Attapatu, Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Hasan Tillekeratne, Romesh Kaluwitharana (wicketkeeper), Chaminda Vaas, Sanjeewa de Silva, Jayantha de Silva, Muttiah Muralitharan. Other players are: Sanath Jayasuruiya, Kumar Dharmasena, Nuwan Zoysa. UMPIRES: David Shephard and Wickramasinghe. TV UMPIRE: T.T Francis. MATCH REFEREE: John Reid. Source:: Dawn (http://xiber.com/dawn/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)