Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed has been ruled out of the first Test match against Australia, set to start at the Perth Stadium on December 14, 2023.

During Pakistan’s game against the Prime Minister XI at Canberra, Abrar left the field due to “severe pain in his right leg around his knee”. During an assessment, the medical team made a provisional diagnosis, justifying an MRI scan.

Abrar did not bat in the match, but bowled 27 overs, conceding 80 runs and dismissing Marcus Harris. Pakistan declared on 391-9, following which the Prime Minister’s XI made 367-4 as the match petered out to a draw.

Abrar will “undergo an intervention” at Perth on Monday, December 13. Following that, he will undergo “conservative rehabilitation” under the supervision of the medical staff.

From six Test matches, Abrar has 38 wickets at 31.07 apiece. These famously include 7-114 and 4-120 on Test debut, at Multan in 2022/23, which made him only the second Pakistani bowler to take a 10-wicket haul on maiden appearance.

“He has not been ruled out of the Test series yet,” informed the Pakistan Cricket Board in a release, “but keeping the player’s wellbeing in mind for this and future tours, further assessment before the second Test will ascertain his availability on this tour.”

Pakistan are flying out off-spinner Sajid Khan as Abrar’s replacement. From seven matches, Sajid has 22 wickets at 37.81, with 12 of those scalps coming in the Mirpur Test of 2021/22. Neither Abrar nor Sajid has played Test cricket outside Asia or Zimbabwe.

Australia will host Pakistan for three Test matches, at Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney. Pakistan have not won a Test match on Australian soil since Sydney 1995/96.