Irfan suffers hairline fracture, may miss SL Tests

Mohammad Irfan, the Pakistan fast bowler, has been ruled out for six weeks due to a hairline fracture on his hip and is likely to miss the forthcoming Tests against Sri Lanka, which start from December 31.

Irfan suffered the injury during the second T20 against South Africa in Dubai in November and was subsequently rested from the limited-overs tour to South Africa. The bowler was not a part of the T20 squad for the series against Sri Lanka, but was expected to join the squad for the Tests. Irfan, who made his ODI debut in September 2010, played his first Test in March this year and has since taken 10 wickets in the longest format, at an average of 38.90.

Pakistan are scheduled to host Sri Lanka for two Twenty20s, five ODIs and three Tests in the UAE. The limited-overs leg of the tour starts with the first T20 on December 11 and ends with the fifth ODI on December 27. The first Test, to be held in Dubai, is scheduled for December 31, while the second and third Tests will begin on January 8 and January 20 respectively.