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Pakistan suffers injury to key player [Source: AFP]
The Pakistan cricket team has suffered a major injury blow in the West Indies, sustaining the same just a day before the launch of the Test series. Star opening batter, who recently racked up runs in Bangladesh, has now picked up a lower back injury.
The cricketer has now been ruled out of the entire Test series in West Indies, as well as from the entire three-match rubber in England next month. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to name his replacement for the series in the Caribbean.
Star Pakistan batter ruled out of West Indies, England Test series
On Friday, July 24, the PCB took to its official website and confirmed that 23-year-old opening batter Abdullah Fazal has been ruled out of Pakistan’s entire away Test series against West Indies and England. The decision was confirmed just a day before the opening day of the series-opening first Test against the West Indies in Tarouba.
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The board also stated that the cricketer suffered an acute lower back injury during a training session at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Ground in Trinidad. While the announcement was made on July 24, Abdullah Fazal suffered the injury on July 23 itself.
After Fazal underwent an MRI scan and clinical assessment, the Pakistan medical team panel confirmed that the youngster requires a period of rehabilitation and was accordingly ruled out of the two impending away Test series.
PCB yet to name replacement
With Abdullah Fazal getting ruled out of the two Test series, the PCB is yet to name his replacement in the Pakistan squad, even though the team is just a day away from its Test assignment against hosts West Indies.
In an official statement, the PCB confirmed that they will soon be naming his replacement in “due course”.
Abdullah Fazal starts off Pakistan career on a glittering note
Abdullah Fazal made his international debut for Pakistan just a couple of months ago. The cricketer was named in Pakistan squad as its primary opener for the two-match series in Bangladesh.
He started off his career by punching out twin half-centuries on debut, scoring 60 and 66 runs to accumulate 126 on a tough Mirpur surface against Bangladesh spinners. The left-handed opening batter has so far aggregated 141 runs in two matches at an average of 35.25 with two half-centuries to his name.
Pakistan to take on West Indies in must-win Test series
With one opening batter down owing to an injury, the Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team currently stands depleted in the Caribbean before the series against West Indies.
Notably, the series marks Pakistan’s first assignment since Babar Azam got re-appointed as Test skipper. The series also marks a must-win one for the ‘Men in Green’, considering they are placed at the bottom of the 2025-27 WTC points table.
The first Test between Pakistan and West Indies will be hosted by the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba between July 25 and July 29.
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