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England call up Mahmood and Amjad

Sajid Mahmood and Amjad Khan have been called in as cover for Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Broad for the remaining two one-day internationals against India

Cricinfo staff
26-Nov-2008

Amjad Khan has earned an England call-up after the squad was hit by injuries © Getty Images
 
England have called up Sajid Mahmood and Amjad Khan as cover for Stuart Broad and Andrew Flintoff for the remaining two one-day internationals against India.
Broad limped off four balls into his ninth over with a hamstring strain and is a doubt for the sixth ODI in Guwahati, while Flintoff turned his left ankle in the footholes for the second match running. However, the England management said Flintoff's problem was not associated with the four ankle operations he has had, the most recent of which was in October, keeping him out of the game for six months.
Kevin Pietersen, who received treatment on his side during the Cuttack ODI, said injuries were a huge concern for England. "I will be fine. Broad and Flintoff, we will have a look at. There are a few niggles that are knocking about but I don't want to go in to them."
Both Mahmood and Amjad are with the Performance Squad in Bangalore and will join up with the main party as they head north to Guwahati. Mahmood, 26, last played a one-day international at the 2007 World Cup and has been out of the international scene since Peter Moores took over as coach. However, he enjoyed a solid season for Lancashire, taking 35 wickets in 12 Championship matches, before injury ruled him out of the final six weeks.
For Amjad, who has born in Denmark, his call-up represents a fine recovery from a serious knee injury that ruled him out of the entire 2007 season, after he had forced his way into the England Academy set-up the previous winter. He returned to action last season and impressed with his pace and swing.
Amjad has leapfrogged Liam Plunkett and Tim Bresnan, who played an ODI against Scotland in August, in the pecking order. Both he and Mahmood are known for their ability to produce reverse swing, something that has been a key part of India's attack but that England haven't been able to match.
England's fast-bowling resources were already stretched before the lasted injury problems with Ryan Sidebottom ruled out of the one-day series with a side strain.