Umar Gul expresses doubts about nature of Shadab’s injury

Lahore: Former Pakistani cricketer Umar Gul on Saturday expressed doubts about the nature of Shadab's injury during this critical match.

“We're uncertain about the extent of his injury, but it raises questions when you fall, claim to have a concussion, leave the team, and step outside. The physio examines you, and after some time, you re-emerge. Then, as the match intensifies and the tide turns in our favor, you find yourself sitting on the sidelines, cheering. It indicates that you've made an excuse, saved yourself. So, undoubtedly, people will raise questions," said Umar Gul while talking to a local channel.

He said, “it was a crucial game, and as a senior player, you needed to be out there on the field. There are numerous instances of players continuing to play despite suffering broken hands, simply because they chose to battle for the team's sake. I disagree with Shadab; I don't believe he had a severe injury,”.

Shadab's replacement, Usama Mir, delivered a commendable performance, securing two crucial wickets, including the dismissal of the well-set batsman Aiden Markram, who had been determined to steer South Africa to victory.

 Chennai witnessed an electrifying cricket match on Friday, as South Africa secured a nail-biting one-wicket victory over Pakistan, compounding Pakistan's challenges in the 2023 World Cup.

During the second innings of the match, Pakistan's all-rounder Shadab Khan faced an unsettling moment when he was struck on the head while fielding a ground ball. Although he initially left the field for medical assessment, he later made a return. However, due to concerns about a possible concussion, Shadab Khan was ultimately replaced by Usama Mir as a substitute.

Pakistan's upcoming World Cup match is scheduled against Bangladesh in Kolkata on Tuesday, and they will be looking to regain their momentum in the tournament.