Pakistan’s injury situation in Australia is going from bad to worse as lead spinner Abrar Ahmed has officially been ruled out of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Abrar, who was earlier ruled out of the first Test of the Australia vs Pakistan series in Perth due to a knee injury, is set to miss a second consecutive Test as the PCB have released a statement saying that he has not fully recovered and won’t be available for selection in Melbourne.

According to the PCB release, Abrar is doing much better and is bowling with ’50 per cent intensity’, but is not yet Test match ready. “Abrar Ahmed’s symptoms have significantly improved, and he has started bowling at 50 per cent intensity,” said the release.

“Although he has worked really well since his diagnosis in Canberra, he still is not 100 per cent asymptomatic.

“Considering the nature of the injury and the workload required from a spinner in a Test match, Abrar is not yet ready and will therefore not be available for the second Test.”

The next spinner in line, Noman Ali, has also been ruled out of the Boxing Day Test. In fact, the left-arm spinner has been ruled out of the entire series due to a bout of ‘acute appendicitis’.

Pakistan had called in off-spinner Sajid Khan as cover for Abrar during the first Test, while they have named Mohammad Nawaz as the replacement for Noman. Whether either of them make the XI at the MCG remains to be seen.

The PCB release also added that Abrar will undergo a fitness test which will determine his availability for the rest of the series.

“He will undergo a preliminary fitness test on 25 December, which will determine his probable return-to-play date.”

Pakistan lost the first Test by a huge margin of 360 runs. Amidst the sea of injuries, they’d be looking to get one back in Melbourne.

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