NEW DELHI (India): Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against New Zealand over fitness concerns.
The first Test begins in Wellington on February 21.
The 26-year-old underwent successful surgery for a lower-back injury in October but has remained off the field since then.
“Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against New Zealand,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.
Following a review by a specialist in London, Pandya was advised to remain under rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy until he regains full match fitness, it said.
He has not played Test cricket since the Southampton match against England in September 2018 and made his last appearance in the T20 format against South Africa in September 2019.
India are currently touring New Zealand to play two Tests, three One-day Internationals and five Twenty20 International matches.
The visitors are leading 4-0 in the T20 series.
Bangladesh drop pace bowler Mustafizur
Bangladesh dropped pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman and recalled Rubel Hossain for the first Test of the two-match series against Pakistan which begins in Rawalpindi next week.
Mustafizur was in the two-Test series against India in November but was not picked for any of the matches due to his poor form and fitness.
Opening batsmen Imrul Kayes, Shadman Islam and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan were also left out for injury while wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim opted out due to security concerns.
Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal returned to the Test side after skipping the India series for family reason while Bangladesh also recalled batsmen Najmul Hossain and Soumya Sarkar.
Squad: Mominul Haque (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hasan, Najmul Hossain, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadat Hossain, Abu Jayed, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Soumya Sarkar.
