Two Pakistan cricket players have been ruled out of the T20I Series against New Zealand

The hosts of Pakistan’s Twenty20 International series against New Zealand have suffered a major blow with the absence of two crucial players for the duration of the series.

Due to injury, Muhammad Rizwan and Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi are not available.

Once radiological reports were reviewed, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) approved their removal. Although Rizwan’s problems were not made public, his struggles at bat in the third Twenty20 International appear to point to a hamstring problem. Niazi is said to have also suffered a hamstring injury, even though he did not seem uncomfortable throughout the game.

“Today, the PCB Medical Panel obtained the radiology reports of Muhammad Irfan Khan and Muhammad Rizwan. It has been decided to rest the two players from Thursday’s and Saturday’s Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand after examining the reports and conferring with the Pakistan team management,” a PCB statement said on Wednesday, April 24.

“The two players will work on their rehabilitation with the PCB Medical Panel at NCA,” said the statement.

This information comes after Azam Khan was previously sidelined with a grade-one rupture in his right calf muscle. With Pakistan already facing a diminished team, the series, which has had its fair share of ups and downs, now shifts to Lahore for the final games.

Azam Khan’s injury and the absence of important players like Rizwan and Niazi present a serious obstacle for Pakistan. After the first T20I match washed out, the hosts won the second one. The T20I series is currently tied at one as the Kiwis made a remarkable comeback in the subsequent game.