ISLAMABAD: Pakistan suffered another setback on Tuesday when its medium pacer Abbas Afridi was ruled out of the third T20I against New Zealand, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) saying he suffered from an abdominal wall muscle strain. 

The South Asian team has been plagued with injuries since it arrived in Down Under last month. Pakistani bowlers Khurram Shahzad, Abrar Ahmed, and Noman Ali suffered injuries during the recently concluded Test series against Australia. 

As Pakistan gear up to take on New Zealand in the third T20I in Dunedin on Wednesday, the PCB said Afridi will not be part of the playing XI after he suffered from a “low-grade” abdominal wall muscle strain. 

“His scan has shown no sign of significant injury, and he will be managed symptomatically,” the board said. 

“His availability for the last 2 games will be made at a later stage.”

Afridi’s exclusion would be a setback for Pakistan as he took five wickets for the green shirts from the two matches he has played so far. Pakistan’s bowling unit has been battered this series, conceding scores of 226 and 194 in the first two matches. 

A short while later, Pakistan announced their playing XI for the Dunedin T20I. The visitors have benched Aamer Jamal and leg-spinner Usama Mir from the squad and in their place included all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr.. and Zaman Khan. 

Pakistan will be looking to score their first victory during their tour of Down Under on Wednesday. The South Asian team, who were whitewashed 3-0 by Australia in the Test series, have lost the opening two T20I matches against New Zealand as well. 

In the first match, Pakistan lost by 46 runs while in the second, it was defeated by 21 runs.