The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared an update on Naseem Shah's injury status after the promising speedster injured his shoulder during the recent Asia Cup 2023. This incident occurred during Pakistan's Super Four match against arch-rivals India in Colombo.
Following his injury, Naseem was notably absent from the field during Pakistan's decisive Super Four match-up against Sri Lanka, a game they unfortunately lost by two wickets. With the World Cup 2023 around the corner, scheduled to begin on October 5, fans and team officials alike are hoping for a swift recovery for the talented young bowler.
In an official statement, the PCB elaborated, "The Pakistan Cricket Board's medical team has been monitoring the status of Naseem Shah's shoulder injury sustained during the Asia Cup 2023. Medical consultations with the experts are underway to provide the best possible care to Naseem."
The statement further added, "The PCB medical panel will decide on the fast bowler's return to cricket based on further assessments."
In addition to Naseem's injury woes, Pakistan's cricketing campaign faced another setback during the Asia Cup when their frontline pacer, Haris Rauf, experienced a side strain. Consequently, Rauf was restricted from bowling during the Reserve Day of their match against India. Babar Azam, the skipper of Pakistan, hinted at the possibility of both pacers missing initial matches in the forthcoming World Cup.
Earlier in a press interaction, Babar had said, "I'll tell you later. Not telling you our Plan B now. But yes, Haris Rauf is not bad. He's just got a little bit of a side strain, but he's recovering before the World Cup. Naseem Shah also... they have a couple of miss matches, I don't know [how long] the recovery [is], but in my opinion, Naseem Shah also [will be] in the World Cup later on. But let's see."
With two pivotal members of the pace attack facing fitness concerns, Pakistan's road to World Cup success seems challenging. The cricketing fraternity awaits further updates from the PCB regarding the duo's availability for the premier event.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Suresh Raina tips Australia as favourites in series vs India, terms this star as Men in Blue's X-factor for World Cup
'India are favorites for World Cup 2023 but they're not clear favorites: England's batting legend
