Yousuf pulls out of ongoing Pak-SA Test series due to injury

DUBAI - Pakistan has suffered a major blow during their ongoing Test series against South Africa, as their most experienced batsman, Mohammad Yousuf, has been ruled out and is due to fly back home.

The 36-year-old had to pull out of the ongoing first Test, which started here on Friday, just minutes before the toss due to the recurrence of his groin injury during practice, the Daily Times reported.

“Its an old injury Yousuf sustained before the one-day series last month and since it will take two weeks to heal we are sending him back and there will be no replacement,” team manager Intikhab Alam said to a news agency.

“It is indeed disappointing because Yousuf has been Pakistan’s most reliable batsman and we needed him for this series,” Alam added.

The batsman was originally named in the five-match one-day squad but had to stay at home due to the groin injury last month. He returned to play the final one-day match in the series, which South Africa won in Dubai last week. (ANI)