Pakistan sustained a major injury blow ahead of next week’s three-match T20 series against New Zealand when its captain Babar Azam was ruled out because of a fractured thumb.
Azam sustained the injury on his right thumb at Queenstown on Sunday during team’s practice session.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement that Azam will not be able to attend net sessions for at least 12 days after scans confirmed the fracture.
“During this period, the doctors will continue to monitor Babar’s injury before confirming his participation in the first Test,” the PCB said.
The T20 series begins at Auckland on Dec 18, followed by matches at Hamilton (Dec 20) and Napier (Dec 22). The first Test begins on December 26.
“I have spoken with Babar and he is sad to miss the T20 series,” Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said. “We have a long season of cricket ahead and we now hope that he regains complete fitness as early as possible so that he can return to competitive cricket.”
It’s a second injury blow to the Pakistan team after opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq fractured his left thumb, also in a practice session, on Thursday.
All-rounder Shadab Khan will lead Pakistan in the T20 series in the absence of Azam, provided he recovers from groin injury sustained on Sunday.