DUBAI: Pakistan paceman Wahab Riaz was ruled out of the remainder of the on-going first and next week’s second Test against South Africa after straining a muscle, team manager Intikhab Alam said on Saturday.
The 25-year-old took 2-61 off 18 overs on the opening day of the first Test on Friday before suffering the muscle injury on his right side and could not bowl on Saturday.
“Riaz has suffered a side strain on the right side and needs four to five weeks for recovery before rehabilitation, so he will return to Pakistan after the first Test,” Alam told AFP. Alam said there will be no replacement for Riaz.
This is the second blow to Pakistan in the two-Test series after experienced batsman Mohammad Yousuf had to be withdrawn from the team as his groin injury recurred minutes before the toss on Friday.
Riaz made his Test debut on Pakistan’s tour of England, taking five wickets in the Oval Test. He has so far played three Tests, nine one-day and two Twenty20 matches. The second Test starts in Abu Dhabi on November 20.
