Pathan, Vaas ruled out of Asian XI

Indian seamer Irfan Pathan and Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas have been ruled out of the Asian squad for the inaugural Afro-Asian Cup due to injury.

Both Pathan and Vaas picked up injuries during the final of the tri-series in Colombo on Tuesday, Asian Cricket Council sources said in Kolkata on Wednesday.

The sources named left-hand seamers Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra as possible replacements for the three-match series starting later this month.

"But the final decision will be taken today," they added.

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Meanwhile, two players -- South Africa's Albie Morkel and Zimbabwean Andy Blignaut -- also pulled out of the African XI after failing to recover in time from injuries, acting CEO of South African cricket, Cassim Suliman, said in a statement in Durban.

Suliman said with these two players pulling out, South Africa's Justin Kemp has been drafted into the side.

"Naturally, losing the players of the calibre of Irfan, Chaminda, Albie and Andy is a big blow, but we are fortunate to have enormous depth in both squads," Suliman said in the statement.

"We are confident still, that we shall be able to stage a memorable tournament", said Suliman.

Squads:

Asia: Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Rahul Dravid (vice-capt), Virender Sehwag, Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Yousuf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzak, Muttiaha Muralitharan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe-bin-Morteza, Anil Kumble, Shoaib Akhtar.

Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Shaun Pollock (vice-capt), Boeta Dippenaar, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Monde Zondeki, Jacques Rudolph, Nicky Boje, Justin Ontong, Steve Tikolo, Collins Obuya, Thomas Odoyo, Heath Streak, Tatenda Taibu, Dale Steyn, Justin Kemp.