All-rounder Hardik Pandya on Saturday (January 11) withdrew his name from India ‘A’ squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand as he failed to pass the mandatory fitness tests.

Last month, the selectors had named Pandya in the squad without testing his fitness through Ranji Trophy matches.

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Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar has been drafted into the India ‘A’ squad as a replacement for Hardik. Notably, Shankar has already boarded the flight to Kiwiland where India ‘A’ will play three one-dayers and two four-day Tests against New Zealand ‘A’.

As per a PTI report, Pandya failed a couple of mandatory fitness tests and his scores were well below the acceptable range, implying that he is far from being fit for international cricket.

India ‘A’ team's fitness routine doesn't have any Yo-Yo tests.

Hardik Pandya is out of competitive cricket since September 2019. He underwent a surgery to treat his lower back problem in October and thus missed the home series against Bangladesh, West Indies and Sri Lanka.

(With PTI inputs)