Khawaja has a meniscal tear, likely to undergo surgery

Khawaja suffered an injury before start of play on Thursday’s third day during a throwing drill, and stayed off the field as Pakistan batted through till late in the day. Pakistan piled it on, scoring 400/9 before declaring and setting Australia 538 runs to win.

With Khawaja missing, Shaun Marsh opened with Aaron Finch but was dismissed by Mir Hamza after scoring just four runs; Finch and Travis Head saw Australia through to stumps at 47/1.

The opening batsman went for scans on Thursday evening, and cricket.com.au reported on Friday morning that “although he has not re-torn his anterior cruciate ligament, he has suffered a meniscal tear”.

Though initial reports suggested that Khawaja might yet come out to bat if needed, Tim Paine, the Australia captain, said before start of play on the fourth day that it was very unlikely that Khawaja would bat.

Khawaja was the star in Australia’s fantastic rearguard in the first Test in Dubai. Set 462 for victory, they were 87/3 when Khawaja, having opened the innings, took charge with an innings of 141, scored in close to nine hours.

With Head and Paine also scoring half-centuries, Australia got to 362/8 when time ran out.