Iftikhar replaces injured Haris Sohail for Pakistan vs New Zealand ODIs
Pakistan allrounder Iftikhar Ahmed will change batter Haris Sohail for the ultimate three ODIs of the continued sequence in opposition to New Zealand. Sohail suffered a shoulder damage on the eve of the first ODI, and whereas the PCB introduced preliminary scans have been passable, he didn’t participate in the second game on Sunday.
Sohail, 34, returned to Pakistan’s ODI squad for the primary time in three years for a earlier sequence in opposition to New Zealand in January. He was retained for this one as nicely however landed awkwardly on his left shoulder throughout a fielding drill, inflicting the damage that has necessitated his absence.
The damage is a big blow to Sohail’s World Cup possibilities. Pakistan play three extra ODIs in opposition to Afghanistan in August after which they’ve the Asia Cup, however its logistics are still only being worked out. Sohail has performed 45 ODIs, and was part of Pakistan’s World Cup campaigns in 2015 and 2019.
Iftikhar, 32, has performed simply 10 ODIs, and none for over a yr. His file with the bat has not been particularly encouraging, with 132 runs in 9 innings and a highest rating of 32 not out. But there’s a spot in Pakistan’s center order up for grabs with Sohail’s absence, and Shan Masood’s current struggles. Masood was omitted from the beginning XI of the second ODI, and changed by debutant Abdullah Shafique.