Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand due to a thigh injury following the conclusion of his side’s four wickets victory in the third T20I in Napier on Tuesday

Both players have been ruled out after their thumbs fractured during training sessions in New Zealand.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam and opener Imam-ul-Haq have been ruled out of the first Test starting in Mount Maunganui from 26 December, while the tour selection committee has named prolific domestic run-scorer Imran Butt in the 17-player squad

Chief selector, head coaches of six Cricket Associations, Ijaz Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq were part of the consultation process

Misbah says Pakistan will not experiment in ODIs as every match counts for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 direct qualification, his side will play ODIs for the first time in 12 months, and every opponent needs to be respected irrespective of their international ranking

Misbah-ul-Haq, the chief selector-cum-head coach, has announced the national squad, saying that Abdullah Shafiq has also been included in it for his remarkable performance in ongoing National T20 cup.

After waiting for a long time for his turn to impress, fast bowler Ahmed Bashir did not let the opportunity go as his four-wicket haul spearheaded Central Punjab’s thumping nine-wicket win over Balochistan in the National T20 Cup for First XIs at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Monday night

481 fours, 180 sixes hit in action-packed 14-match Multan-leg

The three struggling sides in the First XI National T20 Cup – Balochistan, Central Punjab and Southern Punjab – have revisited their team combinations for the second round action, which begins at the Pindi Cricket Stadium from Friday, 9 October

Defending champions Northern recorded their 10th consecutive victory in the T20 format by defeating last year’s finalists’ Balochistan by a comprehensive seven wicket margin on Tuesday night at the Multan Cricket Stadium in the 14th match of the National T20 Cup for First XI teams