Injured Malik, Razzaq to return to Pakistan

Pakistan allrounders Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq have been ruled out of the South Africa tour with injuries and will return home immediately. The tour selection committee hasn't asked for replacements, reducing the squad to 15 members from 17.

While Razzaq injured his hamstring while training, Malik aggravated the finger injury he picked up in the second T20 against South Africa in Dubai. He was struck by a rising delivery from Wayne Parnell.

"The decision was taken by the tour selection committee after consultation with the team's doctor and a South African doctor," the PCB said in a statement. "Razzaq suffered from a severe hamstring injury while training the day before yesterday while Malik's hand injury was exacerbated because of the travel stress. The tour selection committee has not asked for replacements."

Both players were retained for Pakistan's tour of South Africa even though they failed to impress during the T20 series in the UAE. Razzaq was recalled since being dropped after the 2012 World T20 in Sri Lanka following his outburst against captain Mohammad Hafeez which fetched him a fine of Rs 1 lakh.