Pakistan’s young pace sensation, Naseem Shah, is facing the possibility of missing the World Cup 2023 due to a shoulder injury sustained during an Asia Cup match against India. After undergoing scans in Dubai, the initial results suggest that Naseem Shah may be sidelined for the remainder of the year. While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to seek a second opinion, the early scan reports indicate a significant setback. This would be a major blow to Pakistan, which recently failed to qualify for the Asia Cup final.
Both Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf suffered injuries during their match against India. Fortunately, Haris Rauf’s injury is not severe, and he is expected to be available for the World Cup. However, Naseem Shah’s injury appears to be more serious than initially thought, potentially jeopardizing his participation in the Test tour to Australia scheduled to commence in December and even the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Also Read: Major Changes in Pakistan Squad for World Cup: No Fakhar, Haris & NaseemNaseem Shah, along with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, had formed a formidable pace trio in recent times. With Naseem Shah sidelined, Pakistan will need to explore alternative options. Zaman Khan has been called in to replace Naseem Shah for the game against Sri Lanka. While Pakistan boasts quality pace bowlers, Naseem Shah’s ability with both the new ball and during the death overs will be missed.
Pakistan has yet to announce its World Cup squad, and Zaman Khan may receive consideration for the highly anticipated event in India. Pakistan will commence their World Cup campaign on October 6 against the Netherlands, with a marquee clash against India scheduled for October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.