All-rounder Imad Wasim has been ruled out of the three-match Twenty20 series against England starting next week in the UAE after failing to recover from a hand injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced Friday.
Wasim, 26, who made his debut earlier this year, fractured a finger in a domestic first-class match and was included in the squad subject to his recovery.
But the PCB said he will need more time and will be replaced by another spinning all-rounder, Bilal Asif, who is already with the team in the UAE for the ongoing one-day series.
[England train at Dubai Cricket Stadium ahead of final ODI against Pakistan — in pictures]
PCB medical officer Sohail Saleem said after inspection of Wasim’s injury it was decided not to risk him.
“After inspection he was initially advised complete rest for three weeks and another inspection revealed he needs a further week’s rest,” a PCB statement said.
Wasim has so far played five one-day and as many Twenty20 matches, impressing with a last over six to guide Pakistan to victory against Sri Lanka in a T20 international in August this year.
Pakistan and England play the three matches in Dubai (November 26 and 27) and Sharjah (November 30).
Pakistan’s Twenty20 squad:
Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Rafatullah Mohmand, Shoaib Malik, Sohaib Maqsood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Bilal Asif, Imran Khan junior, Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Aamer Yamin.
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