Pakistan’s cricket fans are on edge as the national team gears up to face New Zealand in the first of five T20I matches today, with concerns looming over the availability of explosive batter Azam Khan due to an injury scare.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed that Azam encountered discomfort in his right knee and right calf muscle during Wednesday’s training session while batting in the nets. Immediate medical attention was provided, but his participation in the upcoming matches hinges on the results of radiology reports, according to a statement from the board.
Azam Khan, known for his aggressive batting prowess, has featured in eight T20Is for Pakistan, but his recent injury casts doubt over his involvement in the series against New Zealand. Despite his modest T20I statistics, his overall T20 record and recent performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) earned him a spot in the national squad.
The 25-year-old batter was part of a fitness camp organized by the Pakistan Army at its Kakul facility ahead of the series.
In a related development, sources earlier indicated that star pacer Shaheen Afridi might miss multiple matches in the NZ series as part of the team’s rotation policy to manage workload ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup in June. Afridi is expected to sit out the first two matches but will likely return for the last three.
With both Azam Khan and Shaheen Afridi’s participation uncertain, Pakistan faces a challenging start to the series against New Zealand.
Squads:
Pakistan:
Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Amir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, and Zaman Khan.
New Zealand:
Michael Bracewell (c), Tom Blundell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, and Zak Foulkes.
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