News Desk
After skipper Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq, the all-rounder Shadab Khan has also been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Tuesday that Shadab Khan has been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand due to a thigh injury he had sustained after the end of Pakistan’s T20I match in Napier which the team won by four wickets under his leadership.
PCB said in a statement that Shadab Khan will now undergo MRI scans in Tauranga on Thursday, following which a further update on the exact nature of the injury and time needed to return to competitive cricket will be provided.
Left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar has been added in the squad in place of Shadab for the Test that will be played from December 26 till 30.
The Cricket Board said that Zafar Gohar has joined the Test side from Hamilton where he was preparing with the Pakistan Shaheens for Sunday’s T20 match against the Northern Knights.
Zafar Gohar has so far taken 144 wickets in 39 first-class matches, including six five-wicket hauls in an innings and two 10-wicket match hauls.
Pakistan squad for Tests:
Mohammad Rizwan (captain for 1st Test), Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah and Zafar Gohar.
Match schedule:
December 26-30 – First Test vs New Zealand, Mount Manganui
January 3-7 – 2nd Test v New Zealand, Christchurch