Pakistan’s rising cricket star, Naseem Shah, is facing the prospect of missing the entire World Cup after scans revealed a more severe injury to his right shoulder than initially suspected. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is currently seeking a second medical opinion, but early scans conducted in Dubai suggest that Naseem could be sidelined for the remainder of the year. A statement from the PCB issued on Saturday evening indicated that “the PCB medical panel will decide on the fast bowler’s return to cricket based on further assessments.”
If the secondary scans confirm the initial diagnosis, Naseem Shah may be looking at an extended period of recovery. His participation in the upcoming Test series in Australia is now in doubt, and he might also miss the Pakistan Super League in 2024.
Naseem Shah sustained the injury during Pakistan’s second game against India at the Asia Cup last week, where he had to exit the field in the middle of the 46th over. Subsequently, he was ruled out of the tournament. Ironically, the reserve day for the India-Pakistan match, which the PCB had pushed for, turned out to be the day when Naseem suffered the shoulder injury. This injury is reported to be unrelated to any previous shoulder issues.
Naseem Shah’s absence from the World Cup and the subsequent series in Australia is a significant setback for Pakistan. Over the past year, he has evolved from being primarily a red-ball specialist to an invaluable all-format bowler for the national team, and he is currently considered the best among Pakistan’s formidable trio of fast bowlers, which includes Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.
The PCB is expected to make an official decision regarding Naseem Shah’s status once they receive the results of his secondary scans in the coming days. Zaman Khan replaced him in the Asia Cup, and with Mohammad Hasnain also nursing an injury, the team’s fast bowling options may be limited.
Naseem Shah has faced injury challenges early in his career, with a back injury sidelining him for 14 months one year into his international debut. Six weeks after his return, he suffered a shoulder injury during his debut in the County Championship with Gloucestershire, keeping him out for a month.
In the 18 months since his return to cricket, Naseem’s workload has increased significantly, as he transitioned from a red-ball specialist to a key bowler across all formats. He has excelled in ODIs, amassing 32 wickets in just 14 matches at an average of under 17.
However, the burden of this workload, especially for such a young talent, has taken its toll. Since July 2022, Naseem has bowled an astonishing 2246 international deliveries, a number eclipsing even more experienced fast bowlers. This workload has been further compounded by his participation in T20 leagues, including the recently concluded LPL, and his inclusion in the SA20 auction shortlist, a tournament he is now highly likely to miss.
The cricketing world will be eagerly awaiting updates on Naseem Shah’s condition as Pakistan faces the prospect of losing one of its brightest talents for a significant period.
