By IANS,
Sydney : Pakistan’s hopes of securing a series-levelling win in the second cricket Test against Australia received a major setback Saturday when teenage pacer Mohammad Aamer was ruled out of the match because of a stiff hamstring.
A team official said it had been decided by Pakistan coaches that Aamer will not be picked for the second Test starting Sunday in a bid to save him from a possible injury.
According to the officials, Aamer had serious stiffness around his hamstring muscles after the first Test against Australia in Melbourne that ended Dec 30.
Aamir, 17, picked up five wickets in the second innings in Melbourne where Pakistan lost by 170 runs.
The left handed speedster generated pace and touched 150 kmph on a few occasions.
He was Pakistan’s most incisive bowler in the first Test, taking his career’s first five-wicket haul in the second innings.
With Aamer out, both pacers Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami will be returning to the line-up for the SCG Test.
Leg spinner Danish Kaneria will also be back in the side after missing the Melbourne Test because of an injured finger.
Pakistan will be hoping for Kaneria to strike form on the SCG track that has traditionally supported spinners.