Pakistan’s injury crisis has deepend ahead of their 2nd Test match against Australia. Set to start on Boxing Day, 26 December, Pakistan will go into the Test match without their first string bowling attack. Due to the absence of Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf in the Test series, Pakistan were anyway far below their usual bowling standards. But after injuries to spinner Abrar Ahmed, Khurram Shahzad and now Noman Ali, the team’s bowling line-up is left with bare minimum strength.
The Pakistan Cricket Board revealed the news on Saturday, 23 December that Noman Ali would not be taking any further part in the Test series after suffering from acute appendicitis.
“Noman Ali complained of sudden and severe abdominal pain yesterday, leading to examinations and scans in emergency that confirmed a diagnosis of acute appendicitis,” a PCB release issued on Saturday stated.
“On Surgeon advice; he underwent Laparoscopic Appendectomy today in the morning. Post surgery he is stable and doing fine,” it further added.
Sajid Khan – Lone Fit Spinner
Initially included in the squad as a backup spinner to Abrar Ahmed, Noman’s absence will mean that Sajid Khan is the only remaining fit spinner in the squad. In fact Sajid, the right-arm off-spinner was flown out after Abrar Ahmed got injured ahead of the 1st Test match.
Earlier in the week, it was reported that Khurram Shazad complained of soreness in his left side in Perth and scans revealed the debutant had picked up a stress fracture in his ribs and an abdominal muscle tear.
The Boxing Day Test match will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Pakistan fell to a crushing defeat in the first Test match at Perth and have a daunting task ahead of them if they wish to make a comeback in the series. The side has never won a Test series against Pakistan and in fact have not won a single Test match Down Under since 1995.
