Australia

Brett Lee’s hopes of making an international comeback have been dashed by a muscle strain in his right forearm that will force him out of the ICC World Twenty20. Lee suffered the problem during Australia’s one-run warm-up loss to Zimbabwe and the team has requested a replacement player, likely to be either Doug Bollinger or Ryan Harris.

Pakistan

Yasir Arafat

Pakistan allrounder Yasir Arafat has been ruled out of the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies later this month due to a calf injury, the captain Shahid Afridi has confirmed. Arafat, the world’s most successful Twenty20 bowler with 90 wickets, was anyway in doubt when the training camp began in Lahore last week.

Umar Gul

Pakistan’s ongoing preparations for the ICC World Twenty20 received a boost in Lahore, where Umar Gul bowled his first overs in a week as he began his recovery from an injury that had threatened to – and still might ultimately – rule him out of the tournament in the West Indies.

Despite the latest development, PCB chief selector Mohsin Khan sais that Gul will join the team for the tournament only if he is completely fit. “I will send Gul to the West Indies only when he is 100 per cent fit,” Mohsin said.

Gul hurt his shoulder last week during a fielding drill at the camp when he landed awkwardly and had not bowled since then. Pakistan’s management was understood to be seriously concerned over the blow to their leading bowler in the format and a vital contributor in their triumph last year in England.

India

Virender Sehwag

India opener Virender Sehwag has suffered a shoulder injury, which has ruled him out of the ICC World Twenty20 beginning in the West Indies on April 30. Sehwag has been advised rest for three to four weeks, and has been replaced by Tamil Nadu batsman M Vijay in the 15-man squad, the BCCI said in a statement. Gautam Gambhir will be the vice-captain

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Bangladesh

Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal could be in doubt for the ICC World Twenty20 after an existing hand injury flared up during a domestic match. An MRI scan showed the batsman had a wrist fracture.

New Zealand

New Zealand are sweating on the fitness of a batch of experienced players for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean next month. Kyle Mills (shoulder), Jacob Oram (knee), Aaron Redmond and Ian Butler have all been named in the 15-man squad, but their final selection depends on their rehabilitation over the next three weeks.

Daryl Tuffey, the fast bowler, and Neil Broom have missed out because of fitness problems while Rob Nicol, the Canterbury allrounder, has been picked for his first tour. With so many players on the comeback trail, the coach Mark Greatbatch has seven men on standby to cover all possibilities.