Pak vs NZ: Azam Khan ruled out of T20I series due to calf muscle tear

Wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan has had to leave the Pakistan squad midway through the five-match T20I series against New Zealand after suffering a grade-one tear in his right calf muscle. After radiology reports confirmed the injury, the 25-year-old was advised to rest for ten days.

According to a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Azam will be leaving the Pakistan squad and joining the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, where he will "commence his rehabilitation process under the supervision of the PCB medical panel". The statement further added that Azam's injury was noticed for the first time during the pre-match training ahead of the first T20I in Rawalpindi, which was washed out after a couple of deliveries.

One of the most fearsome batters in Pakistan cricket, Azam, has failed to do justice to his potential so far at the international level. In eight T20Is, he has scored just 29 runs at a paltry average of 4.83 and has a dismal strike rate of 90.62. However, he has been a key player for some of his franchise teams in recent times. He helped Islamabad United win the Pakistan Super League earlier this year as he aggregated 226 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 171. Last year, he scored 224 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 155.55 for champions Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Azam is certainly in the scheme of things as far as selection to Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2024 squad is concerned. The son of former Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan will want to recover swiftly and join the national team, which has quite a few T20Is as a dress rehearsal ahead of the marquee event in June.

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Pakistan take 1-0 lead, win second T20I convincingly

After the first game was washed out, Pakistan brought about a professional performance to comprehensively defeat the Kiwis by seven wickets at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Saturday, April 20 in the second T20I. After blowing out New Zealand for just 90, the hosts chased the target in the 13th over.

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Pakistan have a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and would want to double it when they take on the Blackcaps at the same venue for the third T20I on Sunday, April 21.