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 26th 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 1st game of the 5-match ODI series on 6th January in Wellington. The 3-match T20I series will be played between January 22 and 28 to end their limited-overs tour.
