In the opening test of their three-match series, Australia thrashed Pakistan at Optus Stadium in Perth last week. Before the second Test, which begins on Tuesday, December 26, in Melbourne, the tourists will need to recover after their lopsided 360-run defeat.
Owing to an abdominal muscle injury and a stress fracture in his ribs, pacer Khurram Shahzad will miss the rest of the series, severely hampering Pakistan’s prospects of a dramatic comeback. Throughout the first Test, the 24-year-old had pain in his left side, despite finishing with remarkable match numbers of 5/128.
Khurram Shahzad was sent for an MRI scan following the first test, according to a statement released earlier by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). According to the report, the right-arm seamer may have suffered a fracture to his left tenth rib. Consequently, he will be unable to participate in the upcoming tests in Sydney and Melbourne.
“A final management plan will be created for the player once PCB consults with an expert in Australia.
After that, he’ll go back to the NCA in Lahore to complete his recovery and injury management, according to a statement from the PCB.
Pakistan has recently experienced a fair number of injury setbacks. An injury prevented ace speedster Naseem Shah from being selected for this series. Before the first Test match, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed of Pakistan was hurt in his knee during a warm-up match against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra. His availability for the final two games is still questionable.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who replaced Abrar, has a finger injury, according to Pakistan’s head coach, Mohammad Hafeez. Sajid Khan, an off-spinner, might play in Melbourne after entering as cover. In the meantime, it is anticipated that the tourists will select Hasan Ali or Mohammad Wasim Jr. to take Shahzad’s spot in the starting lineup for the second Test.
The “Men in Green” will take on a Victoria team in a two-day match at the Junction Oval starting on Friday, December 22. Pakistan will have the opportunity to try out every player if necessary, as this would not be a Premier League match.
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