Cricket has often tested players. Despite getting injured, many have walked out to bat or bowl irrespective of the game situation. Nathan Lyon walked out to bat in Ashes, Anil Kumble bowled with a broken jaw against West Indies, Glenn Maxwell battling through cramps against Afghanistan in ODI World Cup 2023 to score double century, Rishabh Pant walked out to bat despite a foot fracture, Chris Woakes walked out to bat with a dislocated shoulder and many more. On October 11, Afghanistan’s Rahmat Shah walked out to bat despite a calf injury in the second ODI of the series against Bangladesh.
In which over Shah got injured?
Rahmat walked out to bat at no.4. In the 15th over of the innings, he experienced pain in his calf in hot and humid conditions of Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. After getting medical attention from the physio, he had to walk off the field. When he left the field, he was batting on nine runs from 11 deliveries.
It wasn't an easy pitch to bat on. While Ibrahim Zadran continued to march on, wickets fell at the other end. Zadran missed his century as he was dismissed for a 140-ball 95 in the 44th over. In the 45th over, Afghanistan's ninth wicket fell in the form of Allah Ghazanfar.
Shah gets wheel-chaired off the field
Zadran walked out to bat and joined Bashir Ahmad in the middle. He faced just one delivery from leg-spinner Rishad Hossain. He tried to defend it but the googly hit his front pad. He got off-balance and was down the ground again. He got medical attention again but it was decided he could not continue. He had to be wheel-chaired off the field as Afghanistan were bowled out for 190.
Bangladesh suffered a collapse in the run chase. After Azmatullah Omarzai struck thrice with the new ball, Rashid Khan's fifer helped them register a win by 81 runs after bowling out Bangladesh for 109 in 28.3 overs.
Will Shah play the third ODI?
32-year-old Shah who scored a fifty in the first ODI, is likely to miss the third and final ODI of the series.
"He (Rahmat) unfortunately succumbed to his injury so he is out now. We will do all the right things in terms of imaging and stuff tomorrow. He is going to be out for some time, I think," Afghanistan team physio Nirmalan Thanabalasingam was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
The dead rubber will be played at the same venue on October 14. In Shah's absence, Darwish Rasooli may get to make his ODI debut. Another option is left-handed batter Ikram Alikhil.