PERTH: Right-arm off-spinner Sajid Khan on Tuesday evening, reached here to join the Pakistan squad ahead of the first Test of the three-match series against Australia, scheduled to commence on December 14.
Sajid Khan was added to the Pakistan squad after mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed was ruled out of the first Test.
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Notably, during Pakistan’s four-day practice game against the Prime Minister XI, Abrar left the field of play due to severe pain in his right leg around his knee.
“During an assessment by the medical team, a provisional diagnosis was made – justifying an MRI scan, which was done on the same day,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared on Sunday.
“Abrar will undergo an intervention in Perth on Monday, after which conservative rehabilitation under the supervision of the team’s medical staff, will continue his road to recovery,” the statement added.
The cricket board further shared that Abrar Ahmed has not yet been ruled out of the entirety of the series and his availability in the second Test depends on his fitness and recovery.
“He has not been ruled out of the test series yet, but keeping the player’s wellbeing in mind for this and future tours, further assessment before the second test will ascertain his availability on this tour,” stated PCB.
Sajid Khan, who last represented Pakistan when Australia toured Pakistan in March last year, has thus far played seven Tests.
The off-spinner has 22 wickets to his name at an average of 37.81 with the best bowling figures of 8/22, which came against Bangladesh in December 2021.
Pakistan squad
Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Nauman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed
Schedule of Pakistan’s Test tour of Australia
First Test: December 14-18, Perth Stadium
Second Test: December 26-30, Melbourne Cricket Ground
Third Test: January 3-7, Sydney Cricket Ground
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