Pakistan’s Junaid Khan has been ruled out for a month due to a hairline fracture. As a result, the pacer will be sidelined during his team’s tour of New Zealand.

Junaid fractured his right foot in November during Bangladesh Premier League while playing for the Khulna Titans. He has been advised another four weeks’ rest by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s medical panel following his assessment.

Junaid was expected to make a comeback to the T20 Internationals as he has not played this format for his national team since 2014. The seamer has been out of the team several times due to his injuries including ICC World Cup 2015.

Junaid Khan played 14 ODIs this year and picked up 19 wickets with an average of 31.57 in 2017. He was pivotal in his team’s ICC Champions Trophy triumph.

Another injury concern of the team—Usman Shinwari—is also out of the team since last month due to his stress fracture of the back. The selectors of the board are expected to announce the squad later this week as the team’s departure is scheduled for 26^th December.

To replace these two pacers, Mohammad Irfan and Sohail Khan are expected to be included in the squad. Mohammad Irfan has not played international cricket because of his year-long suspension in September last year.

Pakistan will play their 1^st game of the 5-match ODI series on 6^th January in Wellington. The 3-match T20I series will be played between January 22 and 28 to end their limited-overs tour.