PAK vs AUS: Major blow for Australia ahead of T20I series against Pakistan

Australia’s 21-year-old all-rounder, Cooper Connolly, has been dealt a major blow ahead of the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan after fracturing his left hand during the final ODI in Perth. The injury occurred when Connolly was struck on the hand by Pakistan pacer Mohammad Hasnain while batting, forcing the young player to retire hurt.

According to an official statement from Cricket Australia, Connolly sustained a fracture to his fourth metacarpal and will consult with a specialist on Monday to determine the next steps in his recovery. While a replacement for Connolly will be named in due course, the injury raises concerns as the Australian squad prepares for the three-match T20I series against Pakistan, set to begin on November 14.

The injury came at a tough time for Connolly, who had been featuring prominently in the Australian team after his international debut in September. Connolly had made his debut on the tour of the United Kingdom, where he appeared in T20I matches against Scotland and England. Although he didn’t get a chance to bat and bowled five wicketless overs, the young all-rounder was expected to play a key role in Australia’s T20I lineup against Pakistan.

The injury also came on the back of a disappointing result for Australia in the ODI series, where they were defeated by eight wickets in the final match, handing Pakistan their first-ever ODI series win in Australia in 22 years. Despite the setback, Connolly, after undergoing scans, was seen back in the stadium seated with the Australian squad, showing his resilience in the face of adversity.

Connolly’s absence leaves a hole in Australia’s all-round options, especially as the Big Bash League (BBL) is just around the corner, with the competition set to begin on December 15. The Perth Scorchers, Connolly’s BBL team, will be closely monitoring his recovery, given the promising start to his domestic career.

As Australia looks to regroup, the focus shifts to the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, with the first match scheduled for November 14 at The Gabba. The series will then move to the Sydney Cricket Ground on November 16 and Bellerive Oval on November 18.

Australia T20 squad: Josh Inglis (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

Pakistan T20 squad: Muhammad Rizwan (c), Abbas Afridi, Agha Salman, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan.