Faheem Ashraf who was ruled out of the 1st test due to hamstring injury and now after joining the camp in Karachi hotel has been tested positive for COVID-19 which has ruled him out of the second test match starting on Saturday.
He will be now in isolation for the next 5 days and Pakistan will have to take the call in due course on whether to replace him as they already they are having reserve players who are travelling with the squad.
Pakistan camp after having Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf not available where both are key to the Pakistan team and the importance of these players, Ramiz Raja PCB chairman admitted that due to these players missing from the test match, the Rawalpindi pitch was made lifeless.
The Australian team has also arrived in Karachi as they look to prepare for the second Test match. The first Test match between the two teams ended in a draw. For Pakistan, Imam-ul-Haq has looked in top form as he scored centuries in both innings but the match ended in a draw.
Australia will be looking forward to the second test match and will make the most of the learning experience from the 1st match regardless of what the pitch will be as an experienced side, these things carry a minimum value, rather than the strategies that need to be applied at the time matters the most and the team that takes the advantage at the start of the match will be successful in the 5 days.
Australia is likely to pick a specialist leg spinner Mitchell Swepson who is awaiting to have the test call which may be over as captain Pat Cummins said “I think we’ll have a look before making up our mind.
I think it is an asset for sure to have a wrist spinner. It’s something a bit different, and Sweppo has been bowling beautifully. We’ll get to Karachi and have a look. But absolutely, Sweppo as a wrist spinner is a huge chance if we play two.”
Karachi test will be played from 12th March – 16th March 2022 and match timing will be 10 am local time.
