Usman Shinwari ruled out of second Test against Sri Lanka

KARACHI: Pakistan cricket team’s left-arm pacer Usman Shinwari has been ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Karachi after he was hospitalised due to high fever.

A Pakistan team official confirmed on Tuesday that the fast bowler was admitted to a hospital earlier in the day. The spokesperson said Shinwari is suffering from high fever and is suspected to have got some infection. He further said Shinwari was being kept at the hospital for further diagnosis and observation.

Pakistan’s head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq  confirmed that Shinwari was out. He said Shinwari was was being treated and was highly unlikely to be available for the second Test starting from Thursday at the National Stadium.

Shinwari made his Test debut last week at Rawalpindi in the first match against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, it was expected that spinner Yasir Shah would return to Pakistan’s national side in Karachi after missing the first Test.

Pakistan and visiting side Sri Lanka have intensified their preparations for the second and final Test in Karachi starting on Thursday December 19. Both teams practiced hard in the practice session and trained vigorously in all the departments of the game before the decider which is slated to start from December 19.

Pakistan team paid special attention to the fitness, stretching and fielding drills while the Islanders have started planning to give the national team a rough time in Karachi. The visiting team are determined to perform well in the Karachi Test.

Sri Lanka have also lost pacer Kasun Rajitha for the second Test, according to head coach Mickey Arthur. “No he can’t play here and he is being looked after for his left hamstring problem,” he said.

Sri Lanka have already lost seasoned pacer Suranga Lakmal for the tour due to dengue. Rajitha’s exit means Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando are the only frontline quicks in the squad to have played Tests. Lakmal’s replacement, 22-year-old Asitha Fernando, has only played one ODI.

Arthur said the only decision to be made for the second Test was whether to go in with three pacers and one spinner or two pacers and two spinners.

The first Test between both the teams ended on a draw. On the fifth day of the Test match, the guest team declared their first innings and made 308 runs for six wickets while Pakistan scored 252 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in the first innings.