Pakistan cricket team suffered a setback on Saturday as it announced that the left-arm pacer Usman Shinwari will not be available to play for at least three months due to a back injury, DawnNews reported.

Shinwari, who impressed with a brilliant five-for against Sri Lanka in what was only his second ODI, has been advised to rest for three to five months, said a PCB official.

"He faced a similar injury in the beginning of his career which kept him out for more than one year, and that is why PCB medical panel has warned to not bring him back until he fully recovers from the career-threatening injury," the official informed DawnNews.

Shinwari will, therefore, miss the expected T20 series against West Indies which is likely to be played in Pakistan. He is also expected to miss the Pakistan Super League's (PSL) third edition starting February 2018.

In October, Shinwari had destroyed Sri Lanka with a five-wicket burst to help Pakistan achieve a convincing nine-wicket win in the fifth and final match for a 5-0 clean sweep of the One-day International series.