'Losing Irfan a huge setback'

Giant Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan was ruled out of the World Cup Tuesday because of a stress fracture to his pelvis, an injury which captain Misbahul Haq described as a "huge setback".

The 32-year-old first felt the hip injury in the 129-run win over the United Arab Emirates two weeks ago when he bowled just three overs.

The injury is a major blow to the 1992 champions' chances of defeating four-time winners Australia in the quarterfinal at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.

"Irfan was one bowler who was different to all the others in the competition," Misbah told AFP. "It is a huge setback for us but we have to live with it."

Irfan, at seven-feet one inch, the tallest man to play international cricket, took eight wickets in the five matches he played at the World Cup.

"It's difficult because we lost two bowlers to suspension before the World Cup," said Misbah of ace spinner Saeed Ajmal and spinning all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez.

"We also lost two good quality pacemen -- Umar Gul and Junaid Khan -- also to injury. Now just when we have started to perform well this injury hits us badly. "