Azam Khan ruled out of New Zealand T20Is with calf injury

Pakistan have been dealt with a blow in the midst of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand as wicket-keeper batter Azam Khan has been ruled out of the series with a calf injury. Azam was named in the hosts’ squad for the series, but did not play the first T20I in Rawalpindi after experiencing discomfort in his right calf during batting practice before the game. 

It’s now been revealed that the 25-year-old has sustained a tear in his right calf muscle, and will hence miss the entirety of the series.

“Azam Khan has been advised to undergo a 10-day rest following radiology reports confirming a Grade One tear of his right calf muscle,” the PCB said in a statement.

“Azam will now depart from the Pakistan men’s cricket team and report to the National Cricket Academy, where he will commence his rehabilitation process under the supervision of the PCB medical panel.”

The news comes as a massive blow for the right-handed batter, who ahead of the series was eyeing a spot in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad. A T20 globetrotter, Azam has impressed in T20 leagues across the world but has found it difficult to break through at the international level, evident by his average of 4.83 in T20Is. 

The 25-year-old played the five-match T20I series away in New Zealand in January, but had a disappointing tour, registering scores of 10, 2 & 10 before getting dropped mid-way through the series.

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