Ajmal to miss opening New Zealand Test

Off-spinner to return to Pakistan after father’s death.

KARACHI: Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal will miss the first Test against New Zealand after returning home to attend the funeral of his father.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that necessary arrangements had been made to facilitate Ajmal’s return after his father died on Tuesday.

“He is devastated by the sudden death of his father who expired after being taken to hospital complaining of fever in the cold weather,” said a board official.

PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt and Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad offered their condolences, while the board’s spokesman said, “The entire PCB family express their deepest sympathies to Ajmal on this sad occasion. May the soul of the departed rest in eternal peace.”

Ajmal, one of Pakistan’s main spinners in the last two years, was a certain selection for the first Test tomorrow. The PCB also said it would announce the squad for the one-day series next week.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2011.