Injured Bond Out of Test Series

Wellington : Shane Bond has been ruled out of the rest of the Test series against Pakistan due to a torn abdominal muscle. Bond was the Player of the Match in the thrilling win in Dunedin, where he took eight wickets for the game in what was his first Test in two years.

Bond suffered minor abdominal discomfort following the 32-run victory and scans on Tuesday revealed a one-centimetre tear in an abdominal muscle. The New Zealand team manager Dave Currie said Bond would be rested from the second and third Tests as a precaution.

He is expected to recover in time for New Zealand's home series against Bangladesh early next year. The selectors are likely to name a replacement for Bond by Wednesday, with the second Test set to begin in Wellington on Thursday.

The Dunedin match marked Bond's comeback to Test cricket after he was made ineligible for New Zealand selection due to his decision to play in the ICL. Bond has always been injury-prone and up until his ICL defection he had managed to play only 17 Tests in six years.

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

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