In a significant development for Pakistan’s cricket team, star pacers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah have encountered injuries during their match against India in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. To ensure the fitness and well-being of the players ahead of the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup next month, Pakistan has made a precautionary move by summoning Shahnawaz Dahani and Zaman Khan as backups.
Haris and Naseem will remain under close observation by the team’s medical panel during the Asia Cup 2023. The team management will consider requesting a replacement from the Asian Cricket Council technical committee if either Haris or Naseem remains unavailable for the next seven days.
Pakistan’s final Super Four match will be against Sri Lanka, who will face India before that. Pakistan is aiming to maintain their strong performance after defeating Bangladesh earlier in the tournament.
Haris Rauf, who made a significant impact in the Asia Cup, particularly in the first India-Pakistan encounter where he secured three crucial wickets, has been sidelined as a precaution due to discomfort in his oblique muscle. Pakistan’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, emphasized that this decision is taken with the upcoming World Cup in mind and that other bowlers will be relied upon to complete the remaining overs.
The pace attack for Pakistan this year has been led by the trio of Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, who have taken 68 wickets in 50 overs. Their participation was viewed as an essential asset for Pakistan’s chances in the 2018 World Cup, which is set to begin in October.
In the run-up to the lucrative ICC World Cup, Pakistan is prioritizing player health and performance with this tactical approach to make sure the team is ready for any situation.
