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It seems that World Cup Cricket 2007 is going to turn out to be a nightmare for the pace bowlers or for some of them at least. I just reported you about Brett Lee missing World Cup Cricket 2007. Now, it seems that Irfan Pathan of India may suffer the same fate. Pathan is confident that he has recovered from his injury and he is fit enough to take part in World Cup Cricket 2007. However, Indian selectors are not so confident.

Cricket Zone reported:

Selection panel chief Dilip Vengsarkar today issued a stern warning to Irfan Pathan , saying the struggling speedster would be dropped from the World Cup squad unless he proved his match fitness in Sunday's Deodhar Trophy game in Ahmedabad.

The left arm bowler had declared himself fit from his sore shoulder injury, but Vengsarkar made it clear that Pathan's performance for West Zone against Central Zone two days from now would be watched with keen interest by the selectors.

"I would be there with other selectors to watch Irfan's overall performance and if we are not convinced of his fitness he will not go to the World Cup. We have not yet thought of any replacement, but it will be done in consultation with the captain ( Rahul Dravid ) and coach (Greg Chappell)," the former India captain said.

This is surely not good news for Team India. Irfan Pathan is not a good pace bowler but he can bat too. In fact, he is the only player in Indian squad who goes closest to the definition of an all-rounder. Millions of Indian fans would surely play that Irfan Pathan becomes well and plays in World Cup Cricket 2007. Of course, more than the fans, the sponsors would pray for him with more emotion.