Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tour of New Zealand as he's suffering from fever and failed to recover in time before the squad's departure. The opener is now in isolation in the team hotel but has returned a negative COVID test."Fakhar's covid test report was received on Saturday which came out negative but today he picked up fever," team doctor Sohail Saleem said. "As soon as his condition was reported, he was isolated from the rest of the squad in the team hotel. We are constantly monitoring his condition and remain hopeful of his quick recovery; however he is not fit to travel with the squad and as such has been withdrawn from the touring party."
Pakistan will play three T20Is and two Tests on tour starting from December 18. The tour will start with two four-day warm-up matches against New Zealand A from December 10.The tour is the first for Babar Azam as an all-format captain. The selectors have decided to name Mohammad Rizwan as Test vice-captain and have axed Asad Shafiq from the 35-member touring party. Shadab Khan has been named the vice-captain for the T20I series with Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Amir dropped from the side. The whole squad will spend 14 days in quarantine before in Lincoln.
