Friday 31 October 2014 19:53, UK
Pakistan and Lancashire pace bowler Junaid Khan will not be fit for the Test series against New Zealand.
The 24-year-old left armer, who has been Pakistan's best fast bowler in recent months, has been advised to undergo another six weeks of rehabilitation following his knee injury.
Khan had to return home from the United Arab Emirates earlier this month at the start of the series against Australia after suffering the knee injury during a practice session.
In a statement on Friday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said: "Junaid was examined by an orthopedic surgeon, Dr Waqar Farooqi.
"He was advised to continue with the existing protocol of rehabilitation with gradual increments over the next three weeks. His MRI will be repeated after another six weeks to measure improvement."
Khan made a successful return to Lancashire for the Twenty20 games this summer but was unable to help them avoid relegation from the County Championship top flight when they drew their final match against Middlesex.
Junaid Khan has been advised to continue with the existing protocol of rehabilitation with gradual increments over the next three weeks.
It is further blow for Pakistan who also lost another left arm paceman, Wahab Riaz, with a knee injury during the second one-day international against Australia last month forcing him to return home for rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy.
But the PCB reported that Wahab had shown "impressive" improvement.
"For the last two days, he has had pain-free bowling and batting sessions and his match fitness will be ascertained after he plays a first-class match in the first week of November," said the PCB.
The Pakistani selectors had also rested paceman Muhammad Irfan for both Tests against Australia and New Zealand in order to nurse him through to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand early next year.
Their first Test against New Zealand is on November 9, after completing their Test series against Australia.
Following their disappointing sweep of one-day defeats by Australia, Pakistan won the first Test between the sides in Dubai and continued their revival by dominating the Australian attack in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
At the end of day two of the second Test, Pakistan had declared on 570 for six and then reduced Australia to 22 for one by the close.
