PAK vs ENG: Injury update on Azhar Ali, Liam Livingstone
The first Test is being played in Rawalpindi
Pakistan top-order batter Azhar Ali is fit to bat again during the ongoing first Test against England in Rawalpindi, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Azhar was unable to continue batting after being hit on his right index finger by an Ollie Robinson short ball on day four of the Test match.
The right-hander received treatment on the field from the physio but decided to go back to the pavilion soon after as could not put his glove back on.
Meanwhile, England all-rounder Liam Livingstone, who made his debut in the Rawalpindi Test, will take no further part in the three-match series after a knee injury.
“England all-rounder Liam Livingstone has been ruled out of the rest of the Test series against Pakistan with a right knee injury,” the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday.
“He will return to the UK on Tuesday and commence rehab with the ECB and Lancashire medical teams respectively.
“At this stage, England have yet to make a decision to call up a replacement.”
It must be noted that on day four, England grabbed a couple of quick wickets after setting Pakistan a daunting target of 343 for victory.
Pakistan lost Abdullah Shafique (six) and skipper Babar Azam (four) in their second innings before Imam-ul-Haq (43) and Saud Shakeel (24) ended day four at the crease on 80-2.
Earlier, Harry Brook struck a fiery 87 as England batted aggressively in their second innings before declaring at 264-7.
Debutant spinner Will Jacks took a career-best 6-161 as England finally dismissed Pakistan for 579 in response to their mammoth first innings score of 657.
Seeking ten Pakistan wickets in a maximum 130 overs, England showed their intent early and Ollie Robinson soon bounced out opener Shafique — who scored a century in the first innings.
In the same over he struck Azhar Ali with a sharp, rising delivery, forcing him to retire with an injured finger.
Then Stokes got the prized wicket of Pakistan skipper Azam by forcing an edge off a rising delivery that landed safely in keeper Ollie Pope´s hands — shocking the holiday crowd of 14,200.
But Haq — who also scored a century in the first innings — steadied the ship with Shakeel with a 55-run third-wicket stand.
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