FILE PHOTO: Cricket - ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 - Super 12 - Group 2 - India v Pakistan - Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - October 24, 2021 Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan celebrates winning the match REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammed Rizwan and all-rounder Irfan Khan have been withdrawn from the ongoing home T20 International series against New Zealand due to injury, the country's cricket board (PCB) said.
Rizwan and Irfan both suffered hamstring injuries in the third match in Rawalpindi, where a second-string New Zealand side won by seven wickets to level the five-match series 1-1.
The first match of the series lasted only two balls before being called off due to rain.
"After reviewing the reports and in consultation with the Pakistan team management, it has been decided to rest the two players ..." the PCB said in a statement on Wednesday.
The duo would work on their rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, it added.
With wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan ruled out on the eve of the series with a muscle tear, Haseebullah Khan, who was called up as replacement, is likely to keep wickets in the last two matches in Lahore later on Thursday and on Saturday.
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Peter Rutherford)
