LAHORE — Pakistan's left-arm paceman Junaid Khan has been ruled out of the upcoming one-day series in New Zealand because of a leg injury, fuelling doubts about whether he will play in next month's World Cup. The Pakistan team was to leave for New Zealand late Tuesday to play two One-Day Internationals on Jan. 31 and Feb. 3, with all-rounder Bilawal Bhatti replacing Junaid in the 15-man squad. The 25-year-old, who is one of his country's most promising young seamers, sustained his injury during a short training camp in Lahore last week. Chief selector Moin Khan said Bhatti's inclusion for the World Cup would depend on his performance and Junaid's fitness. “The inclusion of Bhatti for the World Cup 2015 shall be contingent on his performance in the scheduled matches in New Zealand as well as Junaid's recovery,” Moin said in a statement. “If Junaid recovers, he will join the World Cup squad,” he added. Team physiotherapist Brad Robinson and the Pakistan Cricket Board's medical chief Sohail Saleem agreed that Junaid had not recovered well enough from his thigh injury and recommended recuperation. Junaid has taken 75 wickets in his 48 one-day outings at 25.90 apiece. Bhatti, 23, has played seven ODIs, the last in March 2014. Pakistan will also play two warm-up matches in Australia on Feb. 9 and 11. It start its World Cup campaign with a highly charged match against archrival and title-holder India in Adelaide on Feb. 15. Smith to captain Australia Steve Smith will captain Australia in its tri-series limited-overs cricket international against England at Hobart Friday as regular skipper George Bailey serves a one-match suspension for an over rate infraction. Bailey was sanctioned as Australia failed to bowl its overs in the required time in its match against India at Melbourne Sunday after being fined for the same offense in a match against South Africa in November. Smith will become Australia's 22nd ODI captain. Batsmen Shaun Marsh and Cameron White have been called into Australia's squad for the match at Bellerive Oval, replacing Bailey and David Warner, who is being rested due to hamstring soreness. — Agencies
