PAK vs NZ: Pakistan suffer another blow, Shadab Khan ruled out of first Test with thigh injury

Auckland: All-rounder Shadab Khan has been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand with a thigh injury, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old Pakistan all-rounder sustained a thigh injury during Tuesday’s final Twenty20 match against Black Caps in Napier.

Left-arm spinner, Zafar Gohar, has been added to the squad as his replacement.

“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,” PCB) said in a statement.

“Zafar has joined the Test side from Hamilton where he was preparing with the Pakistan Shaheens for Sunday’s T20 match against the Northern Knights”, it added.

Shadab Khan became the third Pakistan player to be ruled out of their opening test.

Pakistan are already without skipper Babar Azam and opener Imam-Ul-Haq, both nursing thumb injuries, for the Boxing Day test scheduled at Mount Maunganui from December 26.

Squad: 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. (UNI)