Naseem Shah Ruled Out of First Few Matches of ICC World Cup 2023 Due to Shoulder Injury
Naseem Shah was earlier ruled out of their virtual knockout match against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2023
Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah, who has been ruled out of the entire Asia Cup 2023 due to a shoulder injury, is set to miss the first couple of games of the ICC World Cup 2023, which is scheduled to be played in India starting on October 5, ESPNCricinfo reported.
In the virtual semi-final against Sri Lanka, Pakistan opted for Zaman Khan as the replacement for Naseem Shah. Unfortunately, Pakistan lost the match by two wickets and, subsequently, were eliminated from the tournament when Zaman Khan couldn’t defend eight runs in the final over against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s bowling attack, once celebrated as the world’s best, faced a stark reality check during the Asia Cup 2023. They struggled against several opponents, particularly arch-nemesis India. Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, previously regarded as a deadly pace trio, appeared less effective against the Men in Blue.
Naseem Shah’s injury is a major blow for Pakistan ahead of the World Cup 2023, as he was their versatile fast bowler capable of delivering in any phase of the game. Unlike Shaheen Afridi, who excels primarily with the new ball in the early overs, and the same applies to Haris Rauf.
