Pakistani cricket team faces a setback ahead of home Test series against Sri Lanka

Pakistani cricket team faces a setback ahead of home Test series against Sri Lanka

LAHORE (ICC) – Hasan Ali, the Pakistan pacer, has been ruled out of the home Test series against Sri Lanka after picking up rib fractures.

Hasan had been sidelined for seven weeks with a back injury, which meant he missed Pakistan’s tour of Australia. He was set to return to action during the domestic first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy last week, but reportedly complained of pain in his left side and was taken for scans.

The scans revealed the injury, and once its full extent became clear with follow-up scans, it was confirmed that he will sit out of the Sri Lanka Tests in Rawalpindi and Karachi from 11 December.

“Fresh CT scans revealed cortical rib fractures, involving ninth rib on the right side and eighth and ninth ribs on the left side. The fractures will require up to six weeks to heal and he will start a rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy from Monday,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.

There was no clarity on how the bowler picked up the complaint.

Hasan has played nine Test matches, 53 ODIs and 30 T20Is for Pakistan, picking up 148 international wickets in his career.