Top-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup with a back injury, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Saturday.
His replacement will be announced later in the day.
Maqsood had received a back injury on Thursday during a game against Northern. He was taken to the hospital for an MRI.
Although he was named in Pakistan’s final 15 for the T20 World Cup, Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim had said that a final decision on his inclusion will be made following medical advice.
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It is quite unfortunate for the swashbuckling batsman as he had regained his form just before the World Cup and was poised to perform well in the T2WC.
However, the injury just before the announcement of the final squad led to his exclusion. In his absence, Shoaib Malik is the most favourite to replace him in the squad. However, a final decision will be made either this evening or early tomorrow.
Since the start of 2020, Maqsood had the highest T20 strike rate among Pakistan batsmen and the ninth-best on the global list (among those with a minimum of 500 runs and 20 innings). It was a marked improvement for the batter, who was previously striking at 125.79.
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup Squad
Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain), Fakhar Zaman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Haider Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Sohaib Maqsood (replacement to be announced), Mohammad Hafeez, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf
Traveling Reserves: Shahnawaz Dahani, Khushdil Shah, Usman Qadir
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