KARACHI: Seasoned Pakistan batsman Younis Khan has been ruled out of the opening Test of the three-match series against the West Indies in Dubai since he is still feeling weak after contracting dengue fever a couple of weeks ago.

The 38-year-old right-hander, Pakistan’s highest Test run-getter with a tally of 9,456 runs from 108 matches, won’t be part of the playing XI in the historic day-night Oct 13-17 fixture against the West Indies at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

According to sources close to the master batsman, Younis has opted to skip the series opener on medical advice after spending a few days at the Liaquat National Hospital here after suffering from high-grade fever.

“Younis has intimated to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that he is unavailable for selection for the first Test in Dubai after being told by his doctor to rest, as a precautionary measure, for at least a week before playing again,” the sources told Dawn on Thursday. “Younis was due to leave for Dubai on Wednesday night but following the [medical] advice, he has now decided to change his travel plans. But he will definitely play in the remaining two Tests in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.”

Younis has not played since making an epic 218 — the 32nd century of a glittering career — in Pakistan’s memorable series-levelling victory against England at The Oval in August.

The sources further said Younis himself is very keen to regain complete fitness, not just for the remainder of the West Indies series but also for the Tests in New Zealand and Australia scheduled later this season.

The Misbah-ul-Haq-led side, who lost their top ranking to India earlier in the week, are due to play two Tests against New Zealand in Christchurch (Nov 17-21) and Hamilton (Nov 25-29) plus three against Australia in Brisbane (Dec 15-19 day-night fixture), Melbourne (Dec 26-30) and Sydney (Jan 3-7).

Meanwhile, fit-again Mohammad Hafeez will be bidding to regain his spot in the Pakistan team for the upcoming Test series after being included as the 14th member in the PCB Patron’s XI squad for the three-day warm-up, day-night affair, against the West Indies that will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium from Friday.

Hafeez, who turns 36 on Oct 17, was inducted after proving his match fitness from a knee injury by scoring 68 in each innings while skippering Quaid-i-Azam Trophy champions SNGPL to a 177-run win over Fata in Sialkot on Tuesday.

The veteran opener mustered just 102 runs in six innings during the England series before being replaced by debutant Iftikhar Ahmed for the final Test. Subsequently, he played in two ODIs — against Ireland and England — before pulling up injured.

Hafeez then missed Pakistan’s sweep of both T20 and ODI series against the West Indies after being advised three-week rest when he was assessed by the PCB medical committee.

The longstanding injury also prevented Hafeez from appearing for a re-test of his bowling action in July after he was suspended for 12 months by the International Cricket Council after being found on two occasions to be over the limit for elbow extension by independent assessors within a two-year period.

The Inzamam-ul-Haq-headed national selection committee is expected to announce the squad for the West Indies Tests during the practice game in Sharjah.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2016