Fakhar Zaman likely to miss Boxing Day Test against South Africa

The aggravation of a knee injury, in all probability, has ruled Fakhar Zaman out of Pakistan’s first Test against South Africa starting on Boxing Day in Centurion. The left-handed opener, as per the Pakistan Cricket Board, is said to be out of action for three to five weeks and his rehabilitation process has started at the Lahore’s National Cricket Academy.

Fakhar seems to have picked up the injury during the second T20I against Pakistan in October. Having pulled off a run-out of Ben McDermott, Fakhar landed roughly on his knee and complained about a pain in his right knee to the physiotherapist the morning after. He then went on to play the five ODIs against New Zealand, which seems to have worsened the condition of his knee, and hence the batsman was sent for rehab.

Making his debut against Australia in October, Fakhar started off in fine fashion scoring 94 and 68 in the second Test which Pakistan won by 373 runs.

This is the second injury for Pakistan, who have already announced that a shoulder injury to Mohammad Abbas will prevent him from playing the third Test against New Zealand and also puts him in doubt for the three Tests against South Africa.