Pakistan chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq has said that Naseem Shah is expected to be out for a longer time than the World Cup.
Pakistan's Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq has conveyed that Naseem Shah's absence from cricket might extend beyond just the World Cup. Regrettably, Naseem has been ruled out of the 2023 World Cup due to a severe shoulder injury, which was officially announced when Pakistan revealed their squad for the tournament on Friday, September 22.
The injury, sustained during the Asia Cup 2023, specifically during the Super Four match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, is expected to have long-term implications for Naseem's cricketing career. Despite the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) vigilant monitoring of his condition, the severity of Naseem's injury necessitated his exclusion from the forthcoming World Cup in India.
In response to Naseem's misfortune, the PCB has summoned the experienced paceman Hasan Ali to step in and replace him in the World Cup squad.
Inzamam, while speaking to reporters as quoted by Reuters, shared that the medical assessment on Naseem indicated a more extended period of absence from the game. In his view, Naseem was presently the world's finest bowler, making his absence a substantial setback for Pakistan in the World Cup.
Inzamam stated, "Naseem Shah is a pivotal bowler for us, but he's currently injured. I haven't made many changes to the team. It's largely the same team you've seen play over the past year or so."
He continued, "Unfortunately, the information we have from our medical team suggests Naseem will be sidelined for an extended duration, not just for the World Cup. At this juncture, I regarded him as the world's top bowler. It's a significant loss for Pakistan, and we hope he makes a swift recovery."
Inzamam speculated that the extended period spent by the players in Sri Lanka, enduring hot and humid conditions, might have contributed to Pakistan's injury woes. "They played a test series there, followed by the Lankan Premier League, a series against Afghanistan, and Asia Cup matches. We wonder whether spending so much time in these conditions led to injuries for our bowlers and even some of our batters," Inzamam reflected.
He concluded on an optimistic note, saying, "Pakistan was the number one ODI team before the World Cup. We have to continue to have faith in these players."
Pakistan's World Cup Squad:
Babar Azam (captain)
Shadab Khan
Abdullah Shafique
Fakhar Zaman
Haris Rauf
Hasan Ali
Iftikhar Ahmed
Imam-ul-Haq
Mohammad Nawaz
Mohammad Rizwan
Mohammad Wasim Jnr
Salman Ali Agha
Saud Shakeel
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Usama Mir.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Naseem Shah's absence extends beyond the World Cup, says Pakistan chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq")
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}