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Pakistan's injury woes continue as their spin sensation Abrar Ahmed will not participate in the second Test match between Australia and Pakistan. Scheduled to commence on December 26, 2023, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, this match will also see Abrar's absence, as he was previously sidelined from the second innings of the first Test due to a knee injury. Notably, Abrar picked six wickets in the first innings of the first Test but his efforts went in vain as Australia won the match by 360 runs. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a medical update on Abrar, stating that his condition is progressing and he has begun bowling at 50 per cent intensity.
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The press release read, “Abrar Ahmed’s symptoms have significantly improved, and he has started bowling at 50 per cent intensity. Although he has worked really well since his diagnosis in Canberra, he still is not 100 per cent asymptomatic. 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. He will undergo a preliminary fitness test on 25 December, which will determine his probable return-to-play date.”
Not just this, Muhammad Nawaz has been called to join Pakistan's squad as Noman Ali's replacement.
The 37-year-old Ali, who didn't play in the first Test at Perth last week, experienced severe pain, leading to a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. He underwent surgery this Saturday.
Pakistan are facing a string of fitness challenges, and according to chief selector Wahab Riaz, Nawaz is set to depart for Australia on the earliest possible flight.
The second Boxing Day Test is scheduled for December 26, with the third Test commencing in Sydney on January 3.
Noman Ali is the most recent player to be sidelined, following pace bowler Khurrum Shahzad's exit from the remaining two Tests. Shahzad, who played in Perth and claimed five wickets, was ruled out on Thursday due to a rib stress fracture and muscle tear.
Presently, Pakistan's squad includes only one specialist spinner, Sajid Khan, who was quickly brought to Australia as a contingency for Abrar. With fast bowler Naseem Shah out with a long-term injury and Haris Rauf choosing to participate in Australia's Big Bash League, Pakistan's bowling lineup for the tour was already compromised. The team's last Test victory in Australia dates back to 1995 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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