Injured Wahab Riaz likely to be replaced by a right-arm pacer

Pakistani pacer Wahab Riaz, who injured himself in the match against India is likely to be replaced by a right-arm pacer Muhammad Abbas. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that Wahab suffered an ankle injury while bowling in the match on Sunday, which Pakistan lost by a big 124 run margin.

A scan confirmed a “deltoid ligament complex”, and Wahab will need two weeks to recover. The doctors in the United Kingdom have suggested Wahab takes the rest of at least 10 days before hitting the pitch again. Riaz straightaway went to the hospital from the field where he had undergone X-ray tests. The media reports further said that he was taken to the hospital on crutches, as he didn’t return for the batting in which Pakistan were dismantled for 164 for nine in 33.4 overs.

As per reports in Times of Islamabad, young fast bowler Mohammad Abbas will be the addition to the squad. Pakistan is scheduled to play their two remaining crucial games against Sri Lanka and South Africa in the Group B fixture. Wahab, who was preferred over Junaid Khan in their tournament opener, proved to be the most expensive bowler in the history of the tournament with 87 off 8.1 wicketless overs against India.

Riaz has constantly struggled in the recent past to maintain his line and length. For Pakistan, he has featured in 79 One-day Internationals in which he claimed 102 wickets at an average of 34.34. On the other hand, the 27-year-old Abbas has played 40 List A games in which he has taken 54 wickets. He also played three Tests to claim 15 wickets against Windies at the average of 19.20.

Pakistan have two more games to play

The team received a lot of flak from fans and also Pakistan veterans for the way they performed in their opening game. They will have to do something really different if they want to make it to the semis. But with the way the Green Army surrendered against India, not showing any fighting spirit whatsoever, that seems unlikely at the moment.