Pakistan have confirmed they will be without leg spinner Shadab Khan for next month’s one-day series with England due to illness. The 20-year-old has been undergoing tests back home and while the Pakistan Cricket Board have not revealed the specifics of the issue, they say he is suffering from a virus which he will need around four weeks to recover from.
Related: Youngsters To Get A Chance For South Africa
With two T20s opening the tour, May 8 marks the first ODI with England and Shadab looks set to miss that match at the Oval, while he is also unlikely to be available for the subsequent four meetings in the five-fixture series. The news also jeopardises the Mianwali-born bowler’s World Cup hopes after being named in his country’s squad for the tournament.
Pakistan open their campaign on May 31 against West Indies at Trent Bridge and his absence will leave a hole in the team as he was the only specialist spinner named in the original party, with all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez and part-timer Shoaib Malik the other options.
