Younus ruled out of first Test against West Indies

PCB official confirmed that 38-year-old will take one week to recover from dengue fever

Veteran batsman Younus Khan has been ruled out of the first of the three-match Test series against the West Indies which starts from October 13.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official confirmed The Express Tribune that the 38-year-old will take one more week to recover from dengue fever, and therefore will not be available for the first match at the Dubai Cricket Stadium. The match will be the first ever day-night Test played by both teams.

Previously, Younus, who is Pakistan's highest run getter in the longest format of the game, was admitted to hospital over a case of fever and on account of low platelets. He missed the Test mace ceremony held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on September 21.

21-year-old Babar Azam, who scored back-to-back centuries in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against the West Indies, is expected to replace the middle-order batsman.

The final squad for the Test series is expected to be announced on October 8.