Harsha Bhogle, the Indian commentator and analyst, expressed his reaction to Naseem Shah’s injury, which has become a significant topic of discussion in the cricketing world. Shah, the Pakistani pacer, is facing the possibility of missing the entire 2023 World Cup due to a shoulder injury he sustained during an Asia Cup 2023 match.
Initially, the injury was believed to be less severe, but recent reports suggest a more serious condition, raising concerns about his participation in the highly anticipated cricket event set to take place in India next month.
Harsha Bhogle described Naseem’s potential absence from the World Cup as “a substantial setback” for the Pakistani team. He shared his thoughts on the matter on social media, stating, “Looks like the news about Naseem Shah is worse than it seemed. It will be a huge loss for Pakistan if he misses out.”
According to ESPNcricinfo, scans conducted in Dubai indicate that the injury could keep the young fast bowler out of action for the remainder of the year. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly seeking a second opinion regarding the injury.
Naseem Shah’s injury occurred during Pakistan’s Asia Cup game against India, where he had to leave the field during the reserve day for that match. The PCB had subsequently announced that he would be unable to participate in the remainder of the tournament. It was clarified that the injury is related to a muscle just below his bowling shoulder and is not a recurrence of any previous shoulder injuries.
Zaman Khan, who replaced Shah during the Asia Cup, may be called up for the World Cup if necessary.
The ICC World Cup 2023 is scheduled to be held in India, featuring ten teams competing for the prestigious title across ten venues from October 5 to November 19. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host both the tournament opener and the final.
The Cricket World Cup will follow a round-robin format, with all teams playing against each other in 45 league matches. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals, scheduled for November 15 in Mumbai and November 16 in Kolkata. The semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.
Per the tournament’s regulations, all teams must finalize their 15-player squads by September 28, with any replacements after this date requiring approval from the ICC.
