The Pakistan cricket team has encountered another setback during their ongoing Test series in Australia, with spinner Noman Ali being the latest player to withdraw due to health concerns. This news comes just after fast bowler Khurram Shahzad's exit from the squad.
Noman Ali, who was not part of the playing XI in Pakistan's first Test defeat at Perth, which ended with a 360-run margin, underwent an appendectomy in Melbourne this past Saturday. His absence adds to the challenges faced by the Pakistan squad, who are already grappling with several key players being unavailable.
"Noman Ali complained of sudden and severe abdominal pain yesterday, leading to examinations and scans in emergency that confirmed a diagnosis of acute appendicitis," a Pakistan team statement read.
"Post-surgery he is stable and doing fine. He will be discharged later (on Saturday)," it added.
The team suffered a significant blow earlier when Khurram Shahzad, who had an impressive debut in Perth with match figures of 5-128, was sidelined for the rest of the series. He sustained a rib stress fracture and muscle tear, ruling him out of the subsequent matches. Shahzad’s injury was a considerable loss, considering his promising start in the Test arena.
Adding to Pakistan's woes, the team arrived in Australia with a depleted bowling attack. Fast bowler Naseem Shah could not join the squad due to a long-standing injury. Moreover, Haris Rauf chose to participate in Australia's Big Bash League, opting out of the Test series.
Pakistan's track record in Australia has been challenging, with the team having not secured a Test win on Australian soil since their victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1995. The team's struggle in Australia is underscored by a string of 15 consecutive Test losses there.
Looking ahead, the Pakistan team is set to play the second Test of the series in Melbourne, starting on Boxing Day. This will be followed by the third and final Test in Sydney, commencing on January 3. This series is crucial for Pakistan as they seek to break their long-standing winless streak in Australia and navigate the series with a limited bowling arsenal. The team's adaptability and resilience will be tested as they face these compounded challenges in the upcoming matches.
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