Queenstown: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of New ZealandT20Is after suffering a fracture in his right thumb during Sunday morning’spractice session.
According to a press release by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), world’ssecond-ranked T20I batsman suffered the injury during a throw-down session,following which he was taken to a local hospital where X-rays confirmed thefracture.
“As such, Babar will be unable to attend nets for, at least, 12 days,meaning he will not be available for the 18, 20 and 22 December T20Is to beplayed in Auckland, Hamilton and Napier, respectively. During this period,the doctors will continue to monitor Babar’s injury before confirming hisparticipation in the first Test, which starts at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui,on 26 December,” read the statement.
Babar suffered the injury a day after Imam-ul-Haq had fractured his leftthumb also during a throw-down session. Imam had also been advised a 12-dayrest, which confirmed his non-availability for the Pakistan Shaheens’four-day match against New Zealand ‘A’, which starts in Whangarei onThursday, December 17.
As with Babar, the doctors will continue to monitor Imam’s injury beforeconfirming his participation in the first Test.
Read Top Stories
Meanwhile, Pakistan T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan is also carrying a groinniggle, which limited his participation in Sunday’s net sessions to battingonly. He had missed the Zimbabwe T20Is due to a similar injury and decisionon his participation in the Auckland T20I will be made closer to the match.
Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said that injuries are part and parcel ofprofessional sport.
