LAHORE: Wicketkeeper batter Haseebullah Khan on Sunday, replaced Azam Khan in Pakistan’s squad for the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

“The national selection committee has announced wicketkeeper/batter Haseebullah as the replacement player for Azam Khan, who was sidelined from the T20I series against New Zealand due to a tear in his right calf muscle, stated PCB in a brief press release.

According to the details, Haseebullah will join the Pakistan team after the third T20I and will be available for selection in the remaining two T20Is, scheduled to be played in Lahore on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

The 21-year-old Haseebullah made his sole T20I appearance against New Zealand earlier this year.

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For the unversed, Azam Khan, who missed the first T20I due to discomfort in his right knee and right calf muscle, was subsequently ruled out of the entirety of the series on Saturday.

“Azam Khan has been advised to undergo a 10-day rest following radiology reports confirming a Grade One tear of his right calf muscle,” stated PCB.

“Consequently, Azam will be unable to participate in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, which culminates in Lahore on April 27,” the statement added.

Notably, the five-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand is squared off at 1-1 after Mark Chapman’s astonishing knock powered the visitors to a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the third T20I.

Pakistan squad for New Zealand T20Is

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Haseebullah (wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Reserves: Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

READ: Chapman stars as New Zealand stun Pakistan to keep series alive