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Big injury blow for Pakistan

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir out of the remainder of the SCG Test but will be fit for ODI series

Pakistan left-arm quick Mohammad Amir will not bowl again in the third Commonwealth Bank Test after scans revealed a side strain, but the paceman will be available for the upcoming VB One-Day International series.

Amir is suffering from a strain in his left intercostal muscle which he sustained during training on the fourth morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground and did not take to the field in Australia's second innings, instead going for a scan.

"Amir has returned to the ground after the scans. The MRI reveals a mark showing strain. Amir will take 3-4 days to recover and will be available for the ODI series in Australia. He will be unavailable to bowl in the third Test in Sydney but will be available to bat if required " Amjad Hussain, the PCB Director Media, told journalists on Friday afternoon. 

In Amir’s absence, Pakistan opened the bowling with right-arm seamer Imran Khan and leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

The latter was taken for 25 runs by David Warner and Usman Khawaja in his first two overs.

David Warner blasts record-breaking 50

Warner smashed a 23-ball 50, the second fastest ever in Test history, before being dismissed for 55 by Wahab Riaz.

Although Aamir has not taken a wicket in more than 60 overs in the series since dismissing Warner in the second innings in Brisbane, his role as a new-ball bowler has been vital for Pakistan.

In addition to the Amir injury, Yasir also didn’t take the field on the second day after lunch due to a hamstring strain and in his absence Pakistan were forced to use part-time leg-spinner Azhar Ali for 14 overs.

Amir also had an injury scare on first day of the first Test in Brisbane when his knee dug into the ground while he was sliding near the boundary and left the field. However on that occasion he returned shortly after and grabbed three more wickets in the innings.

The 24-year-old is part of Pakistan’s limited overs team that will take on Australia in the five-match ODI series this month starting from January 13 in Brisbane.