Karachi: National cricket team captain Babar Azam and opener Imam-ul-Haq have been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand starting on December 26 due to a thumb injury.
A 17-member national squad has been announced for the first Test against New Zealand. National team captain Babar Azam and opener Imam-ul-Haq are not available for the first Test due to a thumb injury. He will lead the national cricket team in the Test match starting from Saturday.
He will be the 33rd captain to lead Pakistan in the most important format of cricket.
The tour selection committee has included opener Imran Butt in the 17-member national Test squad. Whereas Imran Butt has been included in the national test squad for the first time.
Mohammad Rizwan (captain for the first Test), Sarfraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Shaun Masood, Fawad Alam, Sohail Khan, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Imran Butt, Haris Sohail, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fahim Ashraf are Included.
Last week, Babar Azam’s right thumb and Imam-ul-Haq’s left thumb were fractured after being hit by a ball during training in Queenstown.
Both the players have not yet started net practice but the PCB’s medical panel is continuously examining the two players while the decision to participate in the second Test match starting from January 3 in Christchurch will be taken when the time is right.