Naseem Shah likely to miss ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Report

Lahore: Pakistan’s right-arm pacer Naseem Shah could miss the entirety of this year’s International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India due to a shoulder injury.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) initially believed that Naseem's right shoulder injury was far worse than it actually was.

The young lanky pacer may not be able to play in the World Cup, the Australia trip, or the ninth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to the severity of the injury.

“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 report stated.

“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 year". 

"Should secondary results support the initial ones, Naseem, 20, is looking at a layoff spanning several months, putting his participation in the Test series in Australia at the beginning of the year in serious doubt, as well as the upcoming Pakistan Super League."

On the reserve day planned for the eagerly awaited Pakistan-India match, it is noteworthy that Naseem Shah left the field after the 46th over of India's innings.

Briefly, as a precaution to cover for injured Naseem and Haris Rauf following Pakistan's 228-run loss to archrival India, the PCB summoned up backup pacers Zaman Khan and Shahnawaz Dahani for the remainder of the competition.

Later, the PCB announced that Zaman had been added to the Pakistani team and that Naseem Shah would not be competing in the 2023 Asia Cup.

It is important to note that the PCB will decide definitively if Naseem Shah will be able to participate in the ICC Men's World Cup 2023 once they have the findings of Shah's secondary scans in the next few days.