“We have decided to send him back after a skull fracture and advised him to rest for four to six weeks”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad has been ruled out for the remainder of the ongoing series against New Zealand after he sustained a minor skull fracture.

Shehzad suffered a fractured zygomatic arch when he was hit on the side of the head by a bouncer from New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson during the last over before lunch on the second day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi.

Shehzad was dimissed for a career-best 176 after being hit as he dropped his bat onto the stumps while he was collapsing to the ground.

As a result of his injury, Shehzad will be returning back to Pakistan.

“We have decided to send him back after a skull fracture and advised him to rest for four to six weeks,” Pakistan team manager Moin Khan told AFP.

A specialist surgeon has advised that Shehzad be closely monitored for the next 48 hours, but the opener was spotted in the dressing room towards the end of the second day.