PAK v NZ 2018: Mohammad Abbas to miss the third Test due to shoulder injury

The series decider at Abu Dhabi begins from Monday, December 3.

Abbas has been simply magnificent for Pakistan | Getty

Having sustained a painful shoulder injury, Mohammad Abbas is set to miss the third and final Test of Pakistan's ongoing three-match series against New Zealand in UAE. The immensely skillful seam bowler is also in danger of being ruled out from next month's tour of South Africa.

Abbas injured his right shoulder diving in the field during Pakistan's innings win against New Zealand in Dubai. The 28-year-old played throughout the whole of Dubai Test with painkillers, but a shoulder scan on Wednesday, November 28 only inspired fears over the seriousness of his injury.

The results that came out were immediately sent to a shoulder specialist, which suggested that Abbas could be out for anywhere between three weeks to four months.

Before this series, following his brilliance in Dubai with excellence at Abu Dhabi, Abbas picked up 5/33 and 5/62 to help Pakistan register a highly dominating win by a massive margin of 373 runs in the second Test against Australia at Abu Dhabi and inflict a 2-0 whitewash. He was also rewarded with a huge jump in the ICC Test bowlers' rankings for his 17 wickets in the two-match tussle.

The right-armer also recorded only the 15th 10 wicket-haul by a Pakistan bowler and subsequently became the no.3 ranked Test bowler in the rankings released by the game's world governing body.

Following their dramatic 4-run loss at Abu Dhabi, with a dominating innings & 16 runs victory in Dubai, Pakistan levelled the series, 1-1.

The battle now moves back to Abu Dhabi for the all-important series decider beginning Monday, December 3.

(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 29 Nov, 2018

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