Due to a shoulder injury, there is a high likelihood that Pakistan’s fast bowler, Naseem Shah, may be unable to participate in the entire ICC World Cup 2023, scheduled to kick off in India next month. The extent of Shah’s injury to his right shoulder is more severe than initially anticipated, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
The report states, “Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah is likely to miss the entire World Cup after scans revealed an injury to his right shoulder that is worse than was initially suspected. The PCB is understood to be seeking a second opinion, but scans from tests in Dubai appear to show the injury could rule him out for the rest of the year.”
In the event that subsequent results confirm the initial diagnosis, Naseem Shah, who is only 20 years old, is facing a lengthy period of recovery, making his participation in the upcoming Test series in Australia and the next Pakistan Super League highly uncertain.
Naseem Shah sustained this shoulder injury during Pakistan’s second game against India at the Asia Cup last week. He left the field during the reserve day designated for that match. Shortly thereafter, the PCB issued a press release announcing his exclusion from the remainder of the tournament. It’s worth noting that this injury is not a recurrence of any previous shoulder injuries but rather an injury to a muscle just below his bowling shoulder.
If required, Zaman Khan, who stepped in for Shah during the Asia Cup, may be called up to participate in the World Cup.
The final decision regarding Naseem Shah’s participation will be made by the PCB once they receive the results from his secondary scans in the coming days.
The ICC World Cup 2023 is scheduled to be held in India, featuring 10 teams vying for the coveted title across 10 different venues. The tournament will take place from October 5 to November 19, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosting the opening and final matches.
The Cricket World Cup will follow a round-robin format, where all teams will compete against each other in 45 league matches. The top four teams will advance to the semi-finals, set to take place in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16. Reserve days have been allocated for the semi-finals and the final match.
As per the tournament’s regulations, all participating teams must finalize their 15-player squads by September 28, and any replacements after this date will require approval from the ICC.
