Sports: Faheem Ashraf is out of the second Test against Australia after falling victim to Code-19 ! MAK NEWS-21

Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has tested positive for Code-19, and has been ruled out of the second Test of the series against Austral...

Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has tested positive for Code-19, and has been ruled out of the second Test of the series against Australia.

 

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, Faheem Ashraf will have to stay in isolation for next five days. File Photo: AFP

According to the AFP news agency, the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement that Faheem Ashraf tested positive for the code on arrival at the team hotel in Karachi on Wednesday and will have to stay in isolation for the next five days.

 

Read more: Hassan and Fahim ruled out of first Test match against Australia due to injury

Due to the presence of a few substitutes in the squad, it is difficult to announce a replacement for Faheem Ashraf. Faheem Ashraf could not even play the first Test match of the series due to hamstring injury in Pakistan Super League.

 

In Test cricket, Faheem Ashraf is considered an integral part of the Pakistani team and provides the team with the balance in batting and bowling that was severely lacking in the Tests in Rawalpindi.

The importance of Faheem Ashraf in Test XI can be gauged from the fact that Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Rameez Raja had admitted that a lifeless wicket was prepared for the Rawalpindi Test due to the absence of some important players including Faheem.

After the exclusion of Faheem Ashraf and Hassan Ali from the first Test match, Pakistan had included Iftikhar Ahmed and Naseem Shah as their replacements in the team. Only three overs were rented.

 

 

Read also: Excellent batting of Pakistani openers against Australia, broke 51 year old record

Pakistan hopes that Hassan Ali will be fit before the next Test match, which will give Pakistan the bowling pair that took a total of 80 wickets in Test matches last year.

Tests for the rest of the Pakistan squad have turned negative, while Haris Rauf, who missed the first Test due to being a victim of Code 19, will also be available for selection in the next Test match.

The second Test match of the series between Pakistan and Australia will start on Saturday in Karachi.