LAHORE: Fitness issues continue to haunt Pakistan cricket. After losing all-rounder Haris Sohail due to injury, Pakistan squad in Sri Lanka suffered another big blow on Friday when fast bowler Wahab Riaz was ruled out for two to three weeks, owing to a fracture in the left hand he suffered during the ongoing Test in Colombo.

The 29-year-old left-armer Wahab is likely to also miss the crucial five-match One-day International series against Sri Lanka, starting on July 11 after the three-Test series.

“A fracture in the left hand has ruled Wahab Riaz out for two to three weeks. Wahab was hit on the glove on the left hand on Thursday while batting on the first day of the second Test in Colombo. He managed to complete his innings, and also bowled nine overs for 19 runs in Sri Lanka’s first innings,” a PCB press release issued on Friday stated.

“Team Pakistan physiotherapist Brad Robinson reports, ‘An X-ray was performed at the end of the day’s play, which revealed a non-displaced fracture of the base of the fourth MCP bone. He was further examined by a senior orthopedic surgeon who has advised that he will require two to three weeks rest in order to allow healing,’” the release added.

Meanwhile, upcoming middle-order batsman Babar Azam and fast bowler Rahat Ali have been selected to replace Haris and Wahab for the Test series in Sri Lanka.

Both Babar and Rahat will leave for Sri Lanka on Sunday morning. Wahab will come back home after the end of the ongoing Test.

It is instructive to mention here that fitness problems in the Pakistan camp have been on the rise for the last one year or so. The same issue has also been regarded as the main hindrance to the team’s progress by PCB’s World Cup review committee.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2015

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