HAMILTON – Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and opener Imam-ul-Haq have beenruled out of the first Test against New Zealand due to thumb injuries,starting on December 26 in Mount Maunganui, the Pakistan Cricket Board saidin a statement on Monday.
Both players have not returned to the nets.
“Decision on their participation in the second Test, which commences inChristchurch on 3 January, will be made closer to the time,” the PCB said.
Babar Azam had fractured his right thumb on December 12 during a trainingsession in Queenstown and although it was expected that he may be fit in2-weeks, coach Misbah-ul-Haq said that it will be hard for him to playwithout any net session.
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“Although it will be nearly two weeks to Babar’s injury when the first Teststarts, it will be hard on him and the team to play him without any netsessions.
“I remain confident and optimistic that other players will rise to theoccasion in Mount Maunganui and use the opportunity to rise to the occasionand put the disappointment of the T20I series behind them,” Misbah-ul-Haqsaid in a statement.
