Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah has been ruled out for the Asia Cup 2023. He picked up a shoulder injury against India in the Super 4 match of the Asia Cup. As per their captain Babar Azam, his availability for their first few matches in the upcoming World Cup in India is uncertain. It will be a big blow for the Asian Giants if he misses the initial matches of the mega event.
On the other hand, Haris Rauf also did not bowl on the reserve day of the marquee clash against India. He picked up a side strain and should be fit in time for their opening game against The Netherlands. The management called up Zaman Khan as an injury replacement. The pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah has created problems for the batters.
Naseem Shah also... they have a couple of miss matches: Babar Azam
Skipper Babar Azam said in the post-match conference that Haris Rauf's injury wasn't as serious as Naseem's and that he should recover in time for the World Cup. He said, "Not telling you our Plan B now. But yes, Haris Rauf is not bad. He's just got a little bit of a side strain, but he's recovering before the World Cup. Naseem Shah also... they have a couple of miss matches, I don't know
Babar reasoned that a lack of good fielding and bowling in the middle overs cost them the match. He explained, "We just decided to bowl our best overs and asked Shaheen to bowl the second last over and believed in Zaman. Sri Lanka played very well, better cricket than us. We have not been up to the mark in the bowling and fielding. That is why we lost the match. In the middle overs, we did not bowl well. That partnership cost us. We started well, ended well, but middle overs were not great. We have lacked that."
Here's how fans reacted:
Pak will come back stronger keeping I mind these points
— Rathin Dutta 𝕏 (@IamRathinDutta) September 15, 2023
1. Fakhar's bad form to be replaced by someone like Shafiq alongside some like him in the opening pair.
2. With Babar, Imam and Rizwan along with Iftikar, the middle order is now stable
3. Zaman can be in the pack of…
We need him
— Dr Arsalan khan (@Arsalan894) September 15, 2023
Pakistan is Finished then
— VINEETH𓃵🦖 (@sololoveee) September 15, 2023
Gonna be at the bottom of Table in WC
Yes really great
— Mintu Dutta (@MNGamin65372627) September 15, 2023
Dar gaye
— Er.Atul Vaidya🇮🇳🚩 (@atulvai04795672) September 15, 2023
Ok now we dropped WC too
— Ambreeeen.. (@Nostalgicc_A) September 15, 2023
So it's clear Pakistan gained no.1 spot by bashing minnows and bullying B amd C teams.
— 𝘼𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙖🦋 (@AhanaTweets_) September 15, 2023
They are just a mid team with few good bowlers and a great stappader.
Hope this humiliation shut their nagging voices for now. 🙏
Yes really bad news
— Mintu Dutta (@MNGamin65372627) September 15, 2023