NZ vs PAK: Imam-ul-Haq Ruled Out of The Second Test

Pakistan opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand after sustaining a thumb injury while practising in nets for New Zealand series in Queenstown.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a statement said that Imam will return to the home on Sunday. Imam would undergo rehab at the high-performance centre in Lahore.

Pakistan has already been left reeling with their batting talisman and skipper Babar Azam not taking part in the opening Test due to an injury to his thumb. He also missed the entire T20I series against Kiwis.

The 22-year-old all-rounder Shadab Khan also ruled out of the Test series against New Zealand and the upcoming home T20I and Test series against South Africa. He sustained a thigh injury in the final T20I against the black caps. The series against South Africa will commence from January 26. The all-rounder will remain with the team in New Zealand, where he has started his rehabilitation programme under the observation of the medical team.

“The MRI reports have confirmed it is a fresh injury and not the one that had sidelined him from the Zimbabwe series last month.

“The latest injury will be treated conservatively and Shadab will undergo a six-week rehabilitation programme during which he will have weekly ultrasound scans. After the competition of the six-week period, the medical panel will access and evaluate the injury before making a call on Shadab’s return to competitive cricket,” Dr Sohail Saleem of PCB said in a statement.

In the Day two of the first Test against the black caps, Pakistan concluded the day at 30/1, and still trail the first innings total of New Zealand by 401 runs. The visitors are already coming off a loss in the T20I series against the hosts, having gone down 1-