Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed will not be able to participate in the five-match T20 series against New Zealand due to not being fully fit. The spinner is set to return home for continued rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy, aiming for a swift recovery.

After bowling eight overs on day three of the tour game against Prime Minister’s XI at Canberra’s Manuka Oval, Abrar Ahmed expressed discomfort in his right leg. Subsequently, he was withdrawn from the field and underwent an MRI scan to assess the extent of the issue.

As a replacement, left-arm spinner Muhammad Nawaz has has been released from the Test squad and has joined Zaman Khan, Usama Mir and Haris Rauf in the preparations for the upcoming series.

The quartet is scheduled to arrive in Auckland from Australia on January 5, where they will join the rest of the T20 squad for the practice sessions in preparation for the series.

The first T20 International encounter between Pakistan and New Zealand is scheduled to take place in Auckland on January 12.