Pakistan Cricket Team: Two Pakistan players ruled out of New Zealand T20I Series

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Pakistan's T20I series against New Zealand has hit a significant setback for the hosts as two key players have been ruled out for the remainder of the series.

Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Irfan Khan Niazi are being ruled out due to injuries.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed their withdrawal after reviewing radiology reports. While specific details of the injuries were not disclosed, Rizwan's issue seems to be a hamstring, suggested by his difficulty batting in the third T20I. Niazi, despite no visible discomfort during the game, is also believed to have sustained a hamstring injury as well.

"PCB Medical Panel yesterday received Radiology reports of Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Irfan Khan. After reviewing the reports and in consultation with the Pakistan team management, it has been decided to rest the two players from Thursday's and Saturday's T20Is against New Zealand," a PCB release read on Wednesday (April 24).

"The two players will work on their rehabilitation with the PCB Medical Panel at NCA," it added.

This news follows the earlier sidelining of Azam Khan due to a grade-one tear in his right calf muscle. The series, which has seen its share of ups and downs, now moves to Lahore for the final games, with Pakistan already facing a depleted squad.

The absence of key players like Rizwan and Niazi, coupled with Azam Khan's injury, poses a significant challenge for Pakistan. The hosts won the 2nd T20I after the first match got washed out. But the Kiwis came back strongly in the next match and now it is 1-1 in the T20I series.