Uncapped Surrey all-rounder Zafar Ansari’s England debut could be in doubt after he was taken to hospital on Tuesday with a hand injury hours after getting his first Test call-up.
The 23-year-old was named in England’s squad for the three-Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The left-armer, who injured his bowling hand in a County Championship match against Lancashire, was the third spinner in the 16-man team, alongside Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.
Photo: Reuters
Moeen could be used as an opening batsman with captain Alistair Cook, although uncapped Alex Hales has also been included, despite failing to impress during the one-day series against Australia.
There was no place for openers Adam Lyth or Gary Ballance, both deemed to have failed during the Ashes series against Australia, which England won 3-2.
Batsman James Taylor won a Test spot after some impressive performances in the one-day series.
Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart said there was “some doubt” about whether Ansari would be fit to play for England.
“It didn’t look very good,” Stewart was quoted as saying by the BBC. “He was in a lot of pain in the dressing room.”
“What should have been a day of celebration for Zafar, we are now hoping he will be OK. The way he was, there must be some doubt,” he said.
“He dropped a catch stood at cover point. The ball came out of the sun, he saw it late and it hit him hard on the left thumb. He is not in the greatest shape,” Stewart said.
The first Test is to start on Oct. 13 in Abu Dhabi, followed by matches in Dubai (Oct. 22) and Sharjah (Nov. 1).
A four-match ODI series and three Twenty20 matches are to follow.
Left-arm spinner Stephen Parry of Lancashire has been recalled to the Twenty20 squad, which also features Sussex paceman Chris Jordan, now fully recovered from a side injury that ruled him out of international contention midway through the season.
Ben Stokes has been rested for the limited-overs matches.
The England and Wales Cricket Board also announced that former England captain Paul Collingwood and former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene have been appointed to the England management team as consultants.
While Collingwood will work with the limited-overs squad in the UAE and during next year’s World Twenty20, Jayawardene is to act as the batting consultant to the Test squad, the board said.
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