Pakistan face MAJOR setback ahead of 2nd New Zealand ODI as star opener gets ruled out

Pakistan opening batter Usman Khan has been ruled out of the second ODI due to a hamstring injury. The 29-year-old sustained the injury while fielding during the series opener in Napier. Due to this, Usman will be unavailable for the second one-day match against the Black Caps.

The right-hand batter was not initially part of Pakistan’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series but was included after the conclusion of the T20I series. He also made a decent debut for the Men in Green, scoring 39 runs from 33 deliveries in the first ODI.This blow comes after Pakistan suffered a comprehensive 71-run defeat against New Zealand in the first ODI.



Batting first, the Kiwis posted a mammoth total of 344/9 in 50 overs thanks to a brilliant century from Mark Chapman and half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and debutant Muhammad Abbas.In reply, Pakistan did fought well, but in the end the target of 345 proved to be too much and they got bundled out for 271 runs. Babar Azam top scored for the visitors with his valiant knock of 78 while Salman Ali Agha also played a good innings of 58 runs from 48 deliveries.

Seamer Nathan Smith was the pick of the bowlers for the Black Caps as he finished with figures of 4/60 in 8.1 overs. Jacob Duffy also hipped in with 2 scalps as the hosts began the ODI series on a highly positive note.

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