Gul likely to replace Vaas in Asia squad

Karachi, May 26 (UNI) Sri Lanka pacer Chaminda Vaas's withdrawal from next month's Afro-Asia Cup has paved the way for Pakistan's Umar Gul to be inducted into the Asian squad.

The 24-year-old Pakistani pacer was not even considered among the reserves for the 14-man Asia's squad but is now likely to play in the Afro-Asia Cup as the team's two key pacers including Shoaib Akhtar has pulled out.

''I personally believe that Umar Gul can be a good replacement for Vaas because he is a good pacer and is in fine touch these days,'' said Mohsin Hassan Khan, a member of the selection committee to pick the Asian team.

Mohsin, a former Pakistan Test opener, explained that Vaas will have to be replaced with a pacer because neither of the two remaining reserve players is a fast bowler.

''We had kept three standbys and one of them was Bangladesh's fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza. But he has already replaced Shoaib Akhtar and now we will have to look beyond the pool of players we have got for the Afro-Asia Cup to find Vaas's replacement,'' he told 'The News'.

Mohsin and three other selectors from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka chose Asia's squad on May 11 in Dhaka.

He said that the other two reserve players are all-rounder Shahid Afridi and wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthick.

''I believe on current form Afridi could have been a good choice but we need a fast bowler to come in for Vaas,'' he added.

Vaas, Sri Lanka's most successful fast bowler, withdrew from the Afro-Asia Cup as he has county committments with Middlesex.

Mohsin said that the exit of Shoaib and Vaas would weaken Asia's pace attack. ''Shoaib and Vaas are among the world's most experienced and accomplished fast bowlers and there absence would be felt by Asia,'' he said.

He said that either Gul or Indian pacer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth should replace Vaas. ''But the final decision would be made after a discussion among the selectors,'' he added.

Asia led by Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene would meet Africa in the Afro-Asia series which is due to get underway with a Twenty20 game on June 5 followed by a three-match ODI series in Bangalore on June 6 and in Chennai on June 9 and 10.

UNI