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NZ vs PAK: Pakistan mystery spinner ruled out of T20I series against New Zealand due to knee injury

Pakistan's star leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed will miss the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand due to a knee injury, which also kept him out of the Australia Test series.

SportsTak Desk

• Tue • 02 Jan 2024

Pakistan's leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed celebrates with teammates. (File Photo: Getty Images)

Highlights:

Abrar Ahmed has been ruled out of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

He also missed the 2nd Test against Australia due to a knee injury.

Pakistan's star leg spinner Abrar Ahmed initially sidelined from the Australia Test series due to an ankle injury, is now ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand due to a knee injury.

This setback poses challenges for the national cricket team as Abrar, a specialist spinner, will be absent during a crucial T20I series against New Zealand in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup 2024.

The PCB is currently assessing Abrar's fitness and has determined that the spinner will require rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Chief selector Wahab Riaz has confirmed his return, emphasising the leg-spinner's recovery process for future engagements.

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The 25-year-old is set to miss the T20I series against New Zealand due to a knee injury after initially being part of Pakistan's Test squad for the Australia series. Initially sidelined with an ankle injury, he was ruled out of the first Test and remained unfit for the second, now facing a knee injury.

As Pakistan prepare for the T20 World Cup, injuries to key players, including T20I skipper Shaheen Afridi, who is not part of the playing XI for the third Test against Australia, have posed challenges. To address the situation, Pakistan have included Saim Ayub and spinner Sajid Khan for the third and final Test.

Pakistan, initially at the top of the Test points table, have now slipped to the fifth position after consecutive losses against Australia. The team's defeat in the first Test by 360 runs and the second by 79 runs at MCG marks their 16th consecutive loss in Test matches in Australia. For the third Test, Pakistan have added a specialist spinner, shifting from an all-pace attack in the previous two Tests.

The upcoming SCG Test serves as the final match of David Warner's Test career, with the veteran cricketer aiming to surpass 9000 runs. Although retired from ODIs, Warner remains open to playing in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand has been officially confirmed. Babar Azam relinquished the captaincy across formats post the World Cup, prompting a comprehensive review of Pakistan's tournament performance by the PCB. The board implemented significant changes, with Mohammad Hafeez assuming the team director role from Mickey Arthur and Wahab appointed as the new PCB chief selector. Shaheen is set to debut as the T20I skipper, leading the team for the first time in T20Is.