Wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah has replaced injured Azam Khan in the ongoing home T20I series against New Zealand, the national selection committee said on Sunday.
“Haseebullah will join the Pakistan side after tonight’s third T20I,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement on Sunday.
Khan was sidelined from the T20I series against NZ due to a tear in his right calf muscle. The medical board advised him to undergo a 10-day rest following radiology reports confirming his injury.
The discomfort in the right-hand batter’s right calf was first noticed during batting practice in the pre-first T20I training session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Haseebullah would be available for selection in the remaining two T20Is scheduled to be played in Lahore on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. The 21-year-old Haseebullah made his sole T20I appearance against New Zealand earlier this year.
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Pakistan beat New Zealand in the second match by seven wickets in Rawalpindi on Saturday. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Amir led a destructive Pakistan attack to bowl out an under-strength visitors for a paltry 90 in the match.
The first of a five-match series was washed out after just two deliveries, also in Rawalpindi, on Thursday.
Both teams are preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in June in the United States and the West Indies.