Due to a shoulder injury, Pakistan’s young fast bowler, Naseem Shah, will not be able to participate in the third and final test match against England. This setback follows Naseem’s shoulder discomfort during the initial test match in Rawalpindi, which caused him to miss the subsequent test in Multan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a statement on Tuesday confirming Naseem Shah’s absence from the final test due to this shoulder issue.
The PCB also mentioned that Naseem’s injury will undergo further evaluation at the National High-Performance Center in Lahore before commencing his rehabilitation process. Pakistan has faced challenges in the fast bowling department, with injuries to key bowlers contributing to their 2-0 deficit in the three-match series. This series marks England’s first test tour of Pakistan in 17 years, and the third test is scheduled to commence in Karachi on Saturday. Pakistan experienced a 74-run defeat in the first test and a thrilling 26-run loss in Multan on the last day, as light conditions deteriorated.
Naseem Shah’s injury is the third setback for Pakistan during this series. Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was previously ruled out due to a knee injury, and paceman Haris Rauf suffered a thigh injury during his test debut in Rawalpindi, subsequently being ruled out for the remainder of the series. The Pakistan team management has not yet requested a replacement for Naseem in the final test. While Pakistan has an uncapped fast bowler, Mohammad Wasim, in the 16-man squad, they opted for only one specialist seamer, Mohammad Ali, in the second test, with bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf sharing the new ball.
