Michael Neser ruled out of the Pakistan tour due to injury

Australia fast bowler Michael Neser has been ruled out of next month’s trip to Pakistan due to a side strain, according to his domestic team Queensland, with no comeback date given.

Mark Steketee, an uncapped pacer, has been named as Australia’s substitute for Neser’s impending trip to Pakistan. With 29 wickets at 16.31, Steketee earned his call-up as the Sheffield Shield’s best wicket-taker this season.

Neser suffered the injury in Queensland’s Marsh One-Day Cup loss to New South Wales on Monday and underwent scans late on Tuesday.

“It’s unfortunate for Michael, and we hope he recovers quickly,” Queensland coach Wade Seccombe said

Neser, who gained his maiden Test cap during the Ashes, has been named to Australia’s team for the next three-match series against Pakistan, which begins on March 4 in Rawalpindi.

Three one-day internationals and one Twenty20 match are also planned between Australia and Pakistan. The Australian team for those matches will be named individually.

The Australians will play in Pakistan for the first time in over 25 years, and it will be the Test team’s first foreign tour since facing England in the 2019 Ashes.