Blow for Pakistan ahead of Boxing Day Test

Pakistan cricket team suffered a major drawback, after opening batsman Fakhar Zaman is expected to be ruled out of the Boxing Day Test match with South Africa in Centurion.

The opening batsman is set to be out of action for three to five weeks after suffering a knee injury, way back in October. Zaman injured his knee during Pakistan's T20I victory against Australia in October however; he continued to play in the following limited overs games against New Zealand.

Zaman was not part of the Test squad, for the ongoing three-Tests series against New Zealand, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seeked his rehabilitation.

Cricbuzz reported that Zaman's rehabilitation process has begun at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore and further tests on his injured knee will be conducted on Tuesday. The duration of his rehabilitation, which for now seems to be a maximum of five weeks, is subject to his progress.

Pakistan is scheduled to play three Tests, five ODIs, and three T20Is on their tour of South Africa which begins with a boxing-day Test in the coming weeks.