Khurram Shahzad won't be playing in remaining test matches

It is now official that Pakistan’s ace pacer, Khurram Shahzad, will not be playing the remaining two test matches against Australia owing to an injury he suffered during the first test match. Khurram Shahzad had a dream international Test debut where the pacer took a wicket in his debut match, though Pakistan ended up on the losing side as Australia defeated the visitors by a huge margin of 360 runs. Pakistan’s bowling line-up got another good bowler, but now the only bowling star of the first test match from Pakistan is officially out of the test series. Making a comeback in the second test match for Shan Masood’s-led Pakistan would be a task.

The Pakistan Cricket Board updated on his health and the injuries and confirmed that Khurram Shahzad has fractured his rib and won’t be available to serve his team in the test matches in Melbourne and Sydney. PCB said that they will first consult a specialist in Australia, and then he will be sent back to Pakistan for further treatment.

PCB will now consult a specialist in Australia after which a final management protocol will be established for the player. He will then return to the NCA in Lahore where he will continue his injury management and rehabilitation.
PCB statement

Injuries with Pakistan’s bowlers are what have been bothering the team quite a while earlier it was young Pakistani bowler Naseem Shah who injured his shoulder in the Asia Cup 2023, due to which he couldn’t play for his team in the World Cup 2023, and just before the Australia Test series, their spinner Abrar Ahmad got injured, due to which he didn’t play the boxing day test. Pakistan is going to play their next test match in Melbourne (December 26–30) and then in Sydney (January 3–7).