Shadab Khan sidelined for six weeks

AUCKLAND: Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has been sidelined for six weeks due to a left leg injury.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shadab Khan has undergone an MRI scan of his injury. The injury of the cricketer is not old but new. Shadab Khan will remain in New Zealand with the national squad and the PCB’s medical panel will continue his rehab program.

Dr. Sohail Saleem said that he wants to be very careful regarding the injury, Shadab Khan has been recommended a rest of six weeks and the medical panel will continue to review the injury of Khan.

Moreover, the first day of the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand ended. New Zealand scored 222 for three on the first day of the first Test.

All three Kiwis batsmen were sent to the pavilion by Shaheen Afridi. At the end of the first day’s play, Ken Williamson was on 94 and Henry Nichols was on 42. Ross Taylor scored 70 for New Zealand.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was within sight of his 23rd Test century after he rebuilt the home side’s innings and guided them to a solid 222-3 at the end of the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan in Mount Maunganui on Saturday.

Williamson, who missed the last Test against West Indies as he awaited the birth of his first child, was on 94 at Bay Oval with Henry Nichols on 42 as New Zealand battled for much of the day against Pakistan’s disciplined and accurate bowling attack.

The 30-year-old Williamson combined with Ross Taylor (70) in a 120-run partnership to resurrect the innings after Shaheen Afridi vindicated stand-in captain Mohammad Rizwan’s decision to bowl first on the grassy wicket.

Shaheen snapped up Tom Latham (four) and Tom Blundell (five) to reduce the hosts to 13-2 inside the first 45 minutes. New Zealand’s batsmen were unable to get into their comfort zone as the bowlers constantly challenged them, inducing false shots and edges that flew agonizingly close to fielders.

Pakistan was without injured regular Test captain Babar Azam, opener Imamul Haq and all-rounder Shadab Khan, who has now been ruled out of the second Test in Christchurch and the home series against South Africa.