Pakistan spinner Noman Ali has been ruled out of the remainder of the Test series against Australia after being diagnosed with acute appendicitis.
The 37-year-old spent Friday evening in hospital after complaining of sudden and severe abdominal pain, with scans confirming the acute appendicitis diagnosis. He subsequently underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy on Saturday morning.
“Post-surgery he is stable and doing fine,” Pakistan Cricket confirmed in a statement.
“He will be discharged later this afternoon.”
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Ali, who has played 15 Tests since his international debut in 2021, joins a growing list of Pakistan players who have withdrawn from the Test series against Australia due to injury or illness. Earlier this week, seamer Khurram Shahzad was ruled out of the remainder of the Test campaign after sustaining a stress fracture in his ribs along with a torn abdominal muscle.
Pakistan is already without star bowler Naseem Shah, currently recovering from a shoulder injury, and fellow quick Haris Rauf, who withdrew from the Test series to play the Big Bash League. Meanwhile, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed remains in doubt for the remainder of the series after missing the first Test with discomfort in his right leg.
Pakistan, trailing 1-0 in the three-match series, is hunting for its first Test victory on Australian soil since 1995. The hosts will retain the Benaud-Qadir Trophy if they win or draw either of the remaining two Tests in Melbourne or Sydney.
