Junaid Khan ruled of New Zealand tour due to injury

Pakistan left-arm pacer Junaid Khan has been ruled out of the upcoming New Zealand tour due to a stress fracture. The bowler fractured his right foot during the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in November. The news comes as a setback for Pakistan as he was a vital cog in the bowling line-up for them this year in One-Day Internationals. However, he has been ruled out of the action for the next four weeks and is hoping to hit the straps soon after.

Junaid was part of the Khulna Titans in BPL and reportedly hit the ball onto his foot which made him leave the field in pain. The latest assessment has confirmed an unhealed stress fracture which is bound to keep him away from cricket. The five-match ODI series against New Zealand will commence on January 6 and the three T20Is will be played between 22 and 28 of the same month. The squad is expected to be announced by the selectors later this week as the team’s scheduled departure is on December 26.

Junaid’s injury woes

Junaid Khan is the second bowler to be ruled out of the tour as Usman Shinwari is the other one who is struggling to get fit after shining against Sri Lanka. He has been advised rest by the head of the medical panel of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Dr Sohail Saleem according to ESPN Cricinfo. The 27-year-old was set to return to the shortest format of the game on the tour after last featuring in 2014. He hasn’t played a Test for Pakistan since 2015 and only made his come back to the side this year in 50-overs format. He has played 14 of his side’s 18 ODIs this year and has also shared the new ball with Mohammad Amir.

There is a possibility that the likes of Mohammad Irfan and Sohail Khan might replace him in the squad. The former, however, is returning from the six-month suspension from all forms of cricket. Sohail, on the other hand, has worked hard on his fitness despite the coach Mickey Arthur has indicated that his comeback in the team is not possible at the age of 34.