In the realm of cricket, there is a significant discussion surrounding the injury to Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah, with Indian commentator and analyst Harsha Bhogle sharing his thoughts on the young bowler’s potential absence from the entire 2023 World Cup.
Naseem Shah, a star fast bowler, sustained a shoulder injury during an Asia Cup 2023 match. Unfortunately, the injury appears to be more severe than initially anticipated, raising substantial doubts about his participation in the highly anticipated cricket event scheduled to take place in India next month. This news was reported by ESPNcricinfo earlier in the day.
Harsha Bhogle expressed his concern over Naseem’s possible unavailability for the World Cup, emphasizing that it would be a significant loss for the Pakistani cricket team. He conveyed this sentiment on the platform formerly known as Twitter, now called X.
Looks like the news about Naseem Shah is worse than it seemed. It will be a huge loss for Pakistan if he misses out.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 16, 2023
The report mentioned that scans conducted in Dubai indicate that the shoulder injury could potentially sideline the young speedster for the remainder of the year, making it likely that he may not participate in the World Cup and might even miss the Pakistan Super League (PSL) next year. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stated that they are closely monitoring Naseem Shah’s injury and will make a decision regarding his return after further assessment.
During Pakistan’s second game against India in the Asia Cup last week, Naseem Shah left the field during the 46th over on the reserve day designated for the match. The PCB subsequently announced that he would be unable to participate in the rest of the tournament due to an injury to a muscle just below his bowling shoulder, which is not a recurrence of any previous shoulder injuries.
In case Naseem Shah is unavailable, Zaman Khan, who replaced him during the Asia Cup, could be called up to participate in the World Cup.
The ICC World Cup 2023 is scheduled to be held in India, featuring 10 teams competing for the coveted title across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19. The tournament will commence at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, hosting both the tournament opener and the final.
The format of the Cricket World Cup involves a round-robin structure, with all teams playing against each other in 45 league matches. The top four teams will progress to the semifinals, slated to take place in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16. Reserve days have been allocated for the semifinals and final. According to the tournament’s regulations, all teams must finalize their 15-player squads by September 28, and any replacements after this date must receive approval from the ICC.