“We are not sure if he recovers ahead of the ODI series but he is at least out for two weeks”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan have been dealt a major blow after it was confirmed that pace bowler Wahab Riaz would miss the rest of the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka with a hand injury.

Riaz suffered a fractured knuckle on the first day of the second Test in Colombo when he was struck on the hand by Sri Lanka debutant Dushmantha Chameera while batting.

Riaz is expected to be out of action for at least two weeks, which means that he may also be forced to skip the ODI series against Sri Lanka, which starts on July 11.

“We had sent him for an X-ray last night and the result shows a hairline fracture,” Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema told ESPNcricinfo. “We are not sure if he recovers ahead of the ODI series but he is at least out for two weeks. That means he can’t be the part of the Test series.”

Despite fracturing his knuckle, Riaz managed to bowl nine overs after Pakistan were skittled out for a dismal 138. However, the 29-year-old was clearly struggled throughout his three spells as he was constantly clutching his left hand after following through.

Even though he did not get any wickets, Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis lauded Riaz for playing through the pain and conceding only 19 runs off his nine overs.

“Despite the blow on his bowling hand, he was still willing to come out and bowl many overs,” Younis said. “Hats off to him as he tried to give his best shot.”