Pakistani all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has been ruled out of the upcoming second Test match against Australia, to be played in Karachi from Saturday, after being tested positive for COVID-19. He was tested upon arrival at the team hotel in Karachi.
He will now have to undergo isolation for five days and his replacement – if Pakistan deems one to be necessary – will be announced in due course. This is the second Test in a row that Faheem Ashraf will not be able to attend of this series.
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Before this, Ashraf had missed the historic opening Test match between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi because of a hamstring strain he picked up during the playoffs of the Pakistan Super League. He along with Hassan Ali were part of Islamabad United’s injury-hit PSL campaign which ended with their narrow loss to finalists Lahore Qalandars.
Ashraf missed the game with a hamstring strain while Hasan played, but limped off towards the end of Lahore’s innings with what has now been confirmed as an abductor strain. Ashraf has been the seam-bowling allrounder Pakistan hasn’t had for years and though he’s taken only 10 wickets in the eight Tests he played in 2021, he was essential in providing shape and discipline to the attack, as well as relief for the other bowlers.
