Wahab Riaz ruled out of South Africa series
Left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz has been ruled out of the ongoing Test series between Pakistan and South Africa due to a muscle strain
ESPNcricinfo staff
13-Nov-2010
Wahab Riaz's tour has been cut short by a muscle strain • Associated Press
Pakistan left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz has been ruled out of the ongoing Test series against South Africa due to a muscle strain. His absence is a blow to Pakistan, who are left with Umar Gul as their lone frontline seamer in their current Test in Dubai.
"Riaz has suffered a side strain on the right side and needs four to five weeks for recovery before rehabilitation, so he will return to Pakistan after the first Test," Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan team manager, told AFP. He added there would be no replacement for Riaz in the squad, and that leaves Mohammad Sami and Sohail Tanvir as possible new-ball partners for Gul in Abu Dhabi for the second Test which starts on November 20.
Riaz, 25, had an impressive start to his Test career, with a five-for on debut against England at The Oval earlier in the year. On Friday, he picked up two wickets in South Africa's first innings but was unable to bowl on the second day of the Test as a result of his injury. Gul and the spin pair of Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal stepped up, however, to bowl out South Africa for 380 after they had dominated the opening day.