Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq have both been ruled out of the first Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand.
Just recently, Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq have both sustained thumb injuries. Today, it has officially been decided that both players be ruled out from Pakistan’s first Test match against New Zealand. As team captain Azam won’t be able to lead the team for the said match, vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan will lead the side. This makes him the 33rd Test captain of Pakistan.
As it may be remembered, Azam has fractured his right thumb and Ul-Haq has fractured his left thumb. Both injuries were sustained in Pakistan’s team training sessions in Queenstown last week. To date, the progress of the two players are still being monitored by the team’s medical staff and it is still unclear if they can make it to the second Test.
As per Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq, ‘Contrary to the T20I side, the Test side appears to be pretty organised and we boast some experienced cricketers, both in batting and bowling departments. With some competitive cricket on the tour now under the belt, I am hoping we will be a better outfit in the longer version of the game’.
‘Although it will be nearly two weeks to Babar's injury when the first Test starts, it will be hard on him and the team to play him without any net sessions. I remain confident and optimistic that other players will rise to the occasion in Mount Maunganui and use the opportunity to rise to the occasion and put the disappointment of the T20I series behind them’, he added.
So far, the Pakistan team also included Imran Butt in their Test lineup. This 24-year-old scored 191 runs in three Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches before he boarded his flight towards New Zealand. Aside from that, he also has 934 runs and an average of 62 in first-class cricket.
The first Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand is scheduled to start on December 26 in Mount Maunganui. To date, both teams are still on the last leg of their T20I series. So far, the odds for their last T20I is -270.27 for the Black Caps and +192 for the Men in Green. To know the odds of other upcoming matches, visit Betwala.
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