Pakistan’s injury problems have gotten worse. Abrar Ahmed, an off-spinner, became the third player to be ruled out of the second Test against Australia on Sunday in as many days.
With leg discomfort, Ahmed missed their 360-run loss in Perth. Although he is getting better, he is still too injured to play in Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test.
“Considering the nature of the injury and the workload required from a spinner in a Test match, Abrar is not yet ready and will therefore not be available for the second Test,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said.
“He will undergo a preliminary fitness test on December 25, which will determine his probable return-to-play date.”
It comes after fellow spinner Noman Ali was forced to miss the last three games of the series after being hospitalized with severe appendicitis.
The PCB announced that Muhammad Nawaz has been drafted in as a substitute.
Another injured player is pace bowler Khurram Shahzad, who has missed the last two Test matches due to an abdominal muscle rupture and a stress fracture in his ribs after making an impression on his debut in Perth.
