A more serious right shoulder injury than first anticipated puts Pakistan’s fast bowler, Naseem Shah, in a difficult situation and jeopardizes his prospects of playing in the whole ODI World Cup.
He sustained this injury during a recent Asia Cup match against India, forcing him to leave the field in the 46th over. A muscle right behind his bowling shoulder has been damaged, according to subsequent scans, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is now seeking a second opinion to evaluate the severity of the injury.
If the additional scans support the first diagnosis, Naseem may need to rehabilitate for a longer length of time, casting doubt on his ability to play in the next Test series against Australia and the Pakistan Super League.
This setback presents a huge challenge for Pakistan since, along with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, Naseem has developed into a versatile bowler across all formats.
When the results of the secondary scans are made available in the upcoming days, the PCB is anticipated to make a formal decision. Zaman Khan filled in for Naseem during his absence from the Asia Cup, but Pakistan is also considering alternatives because Mohammad Hasnain is now recovering from an injury.
