Shadab ruled out for six weeks, to miss home series against South Africa

Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has been ruled out of next month’s home series against South Africa due to an injured left thigh.

Doctors have advised Khan to take a six-week rest following MRI scans in New Zealand which revealed the all-rounder has a torn muscle.

Khan sustained the injury during the third Twenty20 international at Napier earlier this week which initially ruled him out of the first Test against the Black Caps.

Team doctor Sohail Saleem said that it was a fresh injury and not the one that sidelined Khan from the limited-overs series against Zimbabwe last month.

After the competition of the six-week period, the medical panel will access and evaluate the injury before making a call on Shadab’s return to competitive cricket, Saleem said in a statement on Saturday.

Khan will stay with the Pakistan team in New Zealand, but will also miss the second Test, starting at Christchurch from Jan 3. Khan has already started his rehabilitation program under the supervision of the medical team.

Pakistan is scheduled to host South Africa for two Test matches and three Twenty20s from Jan 26 to Feb 14.