Babar Azam ruled out of New Zealand T20I series

Teamdoctors will continue to monitor his fractured thumb ahead of confirming his participation in the Test series that starts on Boxing Day at Mount Maunganui

Babar Azam has been ruled out of his country’s T20I series against New Zealand after fracturing his thumb.

The Pakistan captain suffered the injury during a throwdown session. He has been advised to rest for 12 days, meaning that he will miss the three-match series which begins on December 18 in Auckland.

In the meantime, doctors will continue to monitor him ahead of confirming his participation in the Test series that starts on Boxing Day at Mount Maunganui.

Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said: “Injuries are part and parcel of professional sport and while it is hugely disappointing to lose a player of Babar Azam’s calibre for the T20Is, this opens up opportunities for the other highly talented and exciting players to step-up, understand their responsibilities and try to prove that the Pakistan side is a complete package.

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“I have spoken with Babar and he is sad to miss the T20I series as he was fully focused and keenly looking forward to the T20Is. We have a long season of cricket ahead and we now hope that he regains complete fitness as early as possible so that he can return to competitive cricket.”

Babar’s absence is the latest setback to strike Pakistan’s camp in recent days. Opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq has also fractured his thumb, while T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan is carrying a groin problem, which meant he missed Pakistan’s recent T20Is against Zimbabwe.

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