Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman doubtful for Test series against South Africa

Waseem Ahmed 10:55 01/12/2018
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  • Fakhar Zaman could be out for five weeks.

    In what will come as a major setback for Pakistan, opening batsman Fakhar Zaman has reportedly been ruled out of the opening Test against South Africa at Centurion which gets under way on Boxing Day.

    According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the explosive left-hander is set to be ruled out for at least three to five weeks after aggravating his knee injury in the T20 series against Australia.

    Fakhar was not picked for Pakistan’s ongoing Test series against New Zealand with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stating that the batsman had been rested. It is now understood that the opening batsman was handed a rest to allow him to recuperate from his injury at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore.

    The report states that the 28-year-old injured his knee in the second T20 against Australia while completing a sensational run-out. Fakhar had taken a massive tumble as he pulled off a direct hit to run-out Ben McDermott and complained of pain to the team physiotherapists the next day.

    The Pakistan batsman continued to play through the pain for five more limited-over clashes against Australia and New Zealand before it was decided that he needed to be rehabilitated.

    Fakhar picked up the injury in the T20 series against Australia.

    Fakhar picked up the injury in the T20 series against Australia.

    Hence, the southpaw was rested for the Test series against the Kiwis along with leg-spinner Shadab Khan. He has started his process of rehabilitation at the NCA with further tests on his injured knee set to be conducted on Tuesday.

    Fakhar was excellent in his Test debut against Australia in Abu Dhabi with scores of 94 and 68 to lead his side’s march to a 373-run win. He is now expected to be ruled out of the Boxing Day Test against the Proteas and is a major doubt for the two Tests to follow.

    Pakistan are slated to play three Tests, five ODIs and three T20s on their tour of South Africa which begins with the Boxing Day Test.

    Fakhar is not the only Pakistan player currently doubtful for the tour of South Africa with seamer Mohammad Abbas too battling a shoulder injury. Abbas has been all but ruled out of the deciding Test against New Zealand which gets under way on Monday and is facing a race against time to be fit for the Boxing Day Test against the Proteas.

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