Pakistan’s injury list keeps getting longer as Shadab Khan is the lastest to be ruled out of the first test against New Zealand starting December 26. Skipper Babar Azam and opener Imam ul Haq are already out of the Test.
The 22-year-old who recently led Pakistan in the T20 series complained about pain in his left thigh. Zafar Gohar has been added to the squad in his place. Gohar has already joined the Test squad from Hamilton where he was preparing for the T20 game for Shaheens
PCB said Shadab 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.”
Khan missed the series against Zimbabwe in October-November due to groin injury. He was a suspect in the T20I series against New Zealand but had recovered in time to lead the sid.
Zafar Gohar who made his ODI debut in 2015 hasn’t played for Pakistan since. He was third on the list of top wicket-takers in the last season of Quaid-e Azam Trophy. He bagged 38 wickets for champions Central Punjab.
Pakistan squad for first Test: Mohammad Rizwan (captain for 1st Test), Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, Yasir Shah and Zafar Gohar. (Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq and Shadab Khan not available for the first Test).
