Pakistan Test team’s emerging opener Abdullah Fazal has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against the West Indies and England after suffering a lower back injury.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the injury occurred during a training session on Thursday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, the venue for the first Test against the West Indies.
Following an MRI scan and medical assessment, the team’s medical panel advised the 23-year-old to undergo rehabilitation. No decision has yet been made regarding his replacement.
Abdullah Fazal made his Test debut against Bangladesh in May and scored half-centuries in both innings of his maiden Test match.
He also impressed in the warm-up match against the West Indies Select XI, remaining unbeaten in both innings with scores of 50 and 48.
His absence has boosted the chances of middle-order batter Awais Zafar making his Test debut, while Imam-ul-Haq is expected to return to the opening pair.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam wished Abdullah Fazal a speedy recovery, describing him as a talented and confident young cricketer whose absence is a significant loss for the national team.
As a team, we are ready for the West Indies series: Babar Azam
Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam has said the team is fully prepared for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies.
Speaking to the media, Babar said the squad has been preparing for the series over the past two months and that the preparations have gone very well.
He said the players have worked hard on improving both their skills and fitness, adding that the team will strive to deliver positive results in the series.
The Pakistan Test captain also said there is no pressure on the team, noting that the new responsibilities have boosted his confidence. He emphasized that the most important objective is to get match-winning performances from the players.
