Injured Shahzad ruled out of Trent Bridge Test against Pakistan

LONDON - England fast bowler Ajmal Shahzad has been ruled out of the first Test against Pakistan, starting at Trent Bridge here on Thursday, due to an ankle injury.

Shahzad suffered the injury when he twisted his left ankle while playing for Yorkshire in a 40-over match last Monday. He has been replaced by fellow Yorkshire fast bowler Tim Bresnan.

“Unfortunately Ajmal felt some discomfort following England practice at the NCPC (National Cricket Performance Centre) on Tuesday and as a precautionary measure it is felt he is best to undergo rehabilitation on the ankle for the remainder of this week,” The News quoted Nick Peirce, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief medical officer, as saying in a statement.

“We expect Ajmal to make a full recovery, he hasn’t been ruled unavailable for the second Test starting next week (at Edgbaston). He will continue to be assessed this week before a decision on his fitness is made,” he added.

The 25-year-old has so far played just one Test, against Bangladesh in Manchester last month, where he took four wickets for 63 runs.

England team for the Test match (probable): Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wkt), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steven Finn and Tim Bresnan.

Pakistan team for the Test match (probable): Salman Butt (captain), Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wkt), Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria and Mohammad Asif. (ANI)