Imran Farhat's Test hopes 'hit hard' by wife's multiple sclerosis

Pakistan cricketer Imran Farhat, who has struggled to find a place in the team despite a debut a dozen years ago, is having to face a family trauma of his wife suffering from a rare disease.

According to the Dawn, Farhat chose to skip the Test leg of the recent Zimbabwe tour and take care of his bed-ridden wife, who is battling for survival after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and three young children.

According to family sources, although her condition has marginally improved after undergoing back surgery a couple of months ago, the specialists attending the patient have recommended further surgery, which is likely to be done abroad, the report said.

The poignant part of this episode is that Imran, who quite understandably has been in a disturbed frame of mind, was granted official permission from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to stay in Lahore and was replaced by his Habib Bank Limited (HBL) teammate and fellow opener Shan Masood for the tour to Zimbabwe, the report added.

When the probables for the upcoming series against world No 1 Test side South Africa were announced last Thursday, the 31-year-old Imran was one of notable omissions along with fellow left-handers Taufiq Umar and Haris Sohail, who is reportedly having some fitness worries, for the short preparatory camp in Lahore, the report further said.