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[Saba Sports News] Pakistan’s cricket team faces a deepening injury crisis during their Australian tour, with left-arm spinner Noman Ali being the latest casualty. Diagnosed with acute appendicitis, Ali experienced severe abdominal pain, leading to an emergency laparoscopic appendectomy. A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) statement on December 23 confirmed his stable condition post-surgery.
This setback further strains Pakistan’s bowling lineup, which is already depleted. With Noman Ali out, Sajid Khan remains the only fit frontline spinner in the squad. Sajid was a replacement himself, called in after lead spinner Abrar Ahmed suffered an injury during a tour game.
Pakistan had to play the Perth Test without a frontline spinner, a decision influenced by Noman’s unavailability due to a finger injury that restricted his fielding and batting abilities.
The team’s challenges are compounded by the absence of several key players. Seamer Khurram Shahzad was recently sidelined with a rib stress fracture. They are also without Naseem Shah, who sustained a shoulder injury at the Asia Cup and missed the World Cup in India. Haris Rauf opted out of the Australia tour, leaving Shaheen Afridi to lead the pace attack with newcomers Aamer Jamal and Shahzad in the opening Test.
Pakistan, who have a 15-Test losing streak in Australia, now rely on backup seamers Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, and Mohammad Wasim Jr. The second Test of the three-match series is scheduled to begin on December 26 in Melbourne.