Team Neemopani
Pakistan called up Shahnawaz Dahani and Zaman Khan as backups after star pacers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah got hurt in the match against India.
The cricket board said in a late-night statement that this is just a step to make sure the players are healthy and fit for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup next month.
It said that Haris and Naseem will continue to be watched by the team’s medical staff as long as the Asia Cup 2023 is going on.
The team management will only ask the Asian Cricket Council technical committee for a replacement if neither Naseem nor Haris can play for the next week.
Haris Rauf won’t be bowling any further in the ongoing fixture after an injury scare! 😨
Big blow for the Men in Green? #AsiaCup2023 #PAKvIND pic.twitter.com/9bEaZl1krv
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 11, 2023
Pakistan’s next and final Super Four match will be against Sri Lanka. On Tuesday, Sri Lanka will play India and will be hoping to keep up its good form after beating Bangladesh earlier.
Earlier on Monday, Haris Rauf was taken out of the game against India as a precaution, and Naseem didn’t bat because he hurt one of his fingers.
Pakistan’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, said this about the pacer’s injury: “Haris Rauf started to feel pain in his oblique muscle last night, and a scan showed some inflammation. This move is a measure because the World Cup is coming up, and we will count on other bowlers to finish the rest of the overs.”
Haris Rauf made a big difference in the event, especially in the first match between India and Pakistan, when he took three wickets.
India Trounce Pakistan by 228 runs in Asia Cup 2023
Together with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, who are also fast bowlers, he makes up a dangerous pace trio that has taken 68 wickets in 50-over games this year. Before the World Cup in October, these three fast bowlers were seen as Pakistan’s most important strength.
