Picture Credit: X
The Shan Masood-led Pakistan side have been handed another blow as Noman Ali became the latest player to be ruled out of the ongoing Test series against Australia. The Men in Green are currently touring Australia for a three-match Test series and trail 1-0.
Just days ahead of the Boxing Day Test, which will be played from December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Noman Ali will miss the remainder of the series with acute appendicitis. “Noman Ali complained of sudden and severe abdominal pain yesterday, leading to examinations and scans in emergency that confirmed a diagnosis of acute appendicitis,” PCB wrote in its release.
The board further informed that the cricketer is doing fine after he underwent Laparoscopic Appendectomy today in the morning. As a result, the cricketer is likely to take a break from cricket and will return for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) if deemed fit.
Noman was notably included in the squad after Abrar Ahmed was ruled out of the opening Test in Perth due to an injury. However, he did not feature in the XI for the first Test with a finger injury. In his place, the team is likely to go with Sajid Khan, who was brought in as a cover.
Earlier, PCB confirmed Khurram Shahzad’s injury after the first Test. The fast bowler had complained of discomfort and was later confirmed to have suffered a stress fracture in his left 10th rib as well as an abdominal muscle tear.
Pakistan squad for Australia Tests:
Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Aamer Jamal, Md Rizwan, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Saim Ayub.