Pakistan call up Irfan for Sri Lanka one-dayers

Fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has been added to Pakistan's one-day squad for the Sri Lanka series, as cover for the concussed Junaid Khan. Irfan, who will leave for Sri Lanka on Wednesday, has not played international cricket since November 2013 due to a hip injury.

"Junaid is getting better and has started practising," Pakistan's team manager Moin Khan told ESPNcricinfo. "We just want to strengthen the bench, in case anything goes wrong with Junaid, then we can have a bowler to replace him."

The 7ft 1in Irfan, who has 39 wickets from 27 ODIs at 27.12, had suffered two fractures in the ischium bone of his hip and underwent rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore for the injury. For a while, his recovery was slow and it was feared he might need surgery, but eventually he healed without the operation. He had said in June that being ready for the World Cup was his priority, and he was not rushing his comeback since he was "ensuring this time that I can go a long way without breaking down".

Junaid missed the second half of the SSC Test after he was hit on the head by a bouncer from Dhammika Prasad during Pakistan's first innings. After he completed his innings and returned to the dressing room, he lost his balance and had to undergo observation in hospital. He was said to have a slight concussion and was advised rest.

The three-match ODI series begins in Hambantota on August 23.