Pakistan’s injury crisis on the tour of Australia worsened after left-arm spinner Noman Ali was ruled out after being diagnosed with acute appendicitis.

“Noman Ali complained of sudden and severe abdominal pain yesterday, leading to examinations and scans in emergency that confirmed a diagnosis of acute appendicitis,” a PCB release issued on Saturday (December 23) stated. “On Surgeon advice; he underwent Laparoscopic Appendectomy today in the morning. Post surgery he is stable and doing fine.”

The development weakens an already threadbare bowling attack that has only one fit frontline spinner – Sajid Khan – in the squad. Interestingly, Sajid himself was flown in after lead spinner Abrar Ahmed picked up an injury in the tour game. Pakistan played without a frontline spinner in the defeat at Perth and only later was it revealed that Noman was unavailable for selection as he was nursing a finger injury that prevented him from fielding and batting.

Pakistan, who have lost each of their last 15 Tests in Australia, are also without seamer Khurram Shahzad who was ruled two days back with a rib stress fracture. They are missing Naseem Shah, who picked up a shoulder injury at the Asia Cup and also missed the World Cup in India while Haris Rauf opted out of this tour. That meant Shaheen Afridi was paired with a couple of debutants – Aamer Jamal and Shahzad – in the opening Test.

Pakistan’s backup seamers include Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza and Mohammad Wasim Jr. The second Test of the three-match series starts on December 26 in Melbourne.