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Khawaja to replace injured Finch for final India T20

SYDNEY: In-form batsman Usman Khawaja was Saturday brought into Australia’s squad for the final Twenty20 match against India, as captain Aaron Finch was sidelined with injury.

Finch injured his left hamstring in Friday night’s match which India won by 27 runs, giving the tourists an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Cricket Australia said Finch will miss the third and final Twenty20 in Sydney on Sunday but the full extent of his injury was not yet known.

“Although it is too early to confirm the full extent of the issue, we do know that it will prevent him playing in Sydney on Sunday,” sports medicine manager Alex Kountouris said.

“We believe it is not a recurrence of a previous injury he suffered to the same hamstring.”

Finch scored 74 off 48 balls on Friday before he was run out but it was not enough to get Australia a win after India made 184 for three.

Finch, who will remain in Melbourne for scans, said the injury was “hugely frustrating”.

“I am hoping it will not keep me out for a lengthy period of time, especially with an ICC World Twenty20 on the horizon, but I will be guided by the specialists,” he said.

Cricket Australia is yet to name the captain for the final T20 match.

M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.