ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will take the field against India on Sunday without right-arm pacer Shahnawaz Dahani, who has been ruled out of the match owing to an injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Saturday.

Dahani has been part of the Asia Cup playing XI that took the field against India and Hong Kong in this year's Asia Cup. The fast bowler took one wicket and gave away seven runs in the only two overs he bowled against Hong Kong on Friday night. 

The PCB said it was while bowling the match that Dahani suffered a side strain. The injury could prove to be a blow for Pakistan, who are already feeling the absence of pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim. Both were ruled out of the Asia Cup before Pakistan played their first match of the tournament, due to injuries. 

"Shahnawaz Dahani will not be available for Sunday’s ACC T20 Asia Cup Super-4 match against India due to a suspected side strain," the PCB said in a statement. 

The board said that as is the case with any suspected side strain injury, the medical team will monitor Dahani for the next 48-72 hours. The medical team would then take decisions, which could include carrying out a scan or deciding whether the bowler will play in the future matches of the tournament or not.  

Pakistan decimated Hong Kong by 155 runs on Friday night, after amassing 193 runs on the scoreboard. In response, the minnows could only manage to score 38 runs as Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Dahani divided the wickets between themselves to trigger a Hong Kong collapse. 

Pakistan lost their opening match of the Asia Cup 2022 tournament to India by 5 wickets in Dubai.