Even before the start of the T20 series against Pakistan and New Zealand, the national team has suffered a major blow and captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the series.
According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), national team captain Babar Azam was ruled out of the series due to a fractured thumb of his right hand.
The PCB said a ball landed on the thumb of Babar Azam’s right hand during a throwdown in a net session in Queenstown, after which he was taken to a hospital where an X-ray confirmed a fracture.
According to the statement, due to the fracture, Babar Azam will not be able to practice net for at least 12 days but he will continue his physical training while the medical panel will review his injury.
Babar Azam ruled out of New Zealand T20Ishttps://t.co/Ouc23mwvMq pic.twitter.com/9ZPKGoRII5
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) December 13, 2020
It should be noted that the series of 3 T20 matches between Pakistan and New Zealand will start from December 18 and its last match will be played on December 22.
On the other hand, on Babar Azam’s injury, national team head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said that injuries are part of any professional sport.
He said that it was disappointing for a talented player like Babar Azam to be out of the T20 series due to injury but it was a great opportunity for other players in the squad to showcase their talents.
The head coach said that he has spoken to Babar Azam and he is very sad to be out of the T20 series.
The national T20 team consists of these players
Shadab Khan (captain), Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdal Shah, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz, Fahim Ashraf, Musa Khan, Emad Wasim And Abdullah Shafiq.