Pakistan batter Abdullah Fazal has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against West Indies and England after sustaining a lower back injury during a training session. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the injury occurred on Thursday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, the venue for the opening Test against West Indies. The 23-year-old will now undergo rehabilitation, with the PCB yet to announce whether a replacement will be added to the squad. Fazal's absence comes just as he was beginning to establish himself in Pakistan's Test setup following an impressive start to his international career. According to the PCB, "following an MRI scan and clinical assessment, the team's medical panel confirmed that Abdullah will require a period of rehabilitation." Promising start interrupted by untimely injury Fazal made an immediate impression after making his Test debut against Bangladesh in May, finishing as Pakistan's highest run-scorer in the match with half-centuries in both innings. He also carried that form into the warm-up fixture against a West Indies Select XI, remaining unbeaten in both innings with scores of 50 and 48. His recent performances had all but secured his place in the playing XI for the opening Test in the Caribbean. However, the injury has forced him out of both the two-match series against West Indies and the subsequent three-Test tour of England, denying him the opportunity to further cement his place in the national side during two significant overseas assignments. Read also: Joe Root Set for Second Stint as England Test Captain After Ben Stokes Exit Squad reshuffle expected ahead of opening Test Fazal's absence is expected to trigger changes in Pakistan's batting order. Middle-order batter Awais Zafar is now in line to make his Test debut after being included in the squad as cover for Saud Shakeel, who was unavailable due to fitness concerns. Meanwhile, Imam-ul-Haq is likely to return to the opening slot after missing Pakistan's previous Test against Bangladesh, where Fazal partnered Azan Awais at the top of the order. The PCB has not disclosed how Fazal sustained the injury during training, but confirmed that the diagnosis followed MRI scans and further medical assessment. The setback comes at a crucial stage in the young batter's career as Pakistan prepare for consecutive overseas Test series in the West Indies and England.