Pakistan Cricket Board Confirms Rest for Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Irfan Khan in T20I Series Against New Zealand

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Irfan Khan will be rested for the remaining two games against New Zealand in the ongoing T20I series. The decision comes after Rizwan sustained a hamstring injury during the third T20I, where he had to retire hurt after scoring 22 runs off 21 deliveries.

Rizwan’s injury saw him surpass Babar Azam and Virat Kohli to become the fastest player to reach 3,000 T20I runs, taking 92 matches and 79 innings to achieve the milestone. The right-handed batter made his T20I debut in 2015 and has since played 93 matches, accumulating 3,048 runs at a strike rate of 127.42.

In addition to Rizwan and Irfan, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan was also advised to rest for 10 days due to a Grade One tear in his right calf muscle. Azam will undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy under the supervision of the PCB medical panel.

The series between Pakistan and New Zealand is currently tied at 1-1, with both teams gearing up for the fourth T20I on Thursday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The absence of Rizwan and Irfan will be a blow to Pakistan, but it provides an opportunity for other players to step up and make an impact in their absence.

Fans will be eagerly watching to see how Pakistan copes without two key players as they look to take the lead in the series against New Zealand. Stay tuned for more updates on the T20I series as it unfolds.