Injury clouds Masood’s future ahead of second test match

Top-order batter Shan Masood has been ruled out due to a finger injury. The setback also raises doubts over whether he will be fit in time for the England tour.

Pakistan’s plans for the second Test against West Indies have hit a snag. Top-order batter Shan Masood has been ruled out due to a finger injury. The setback also raises doubts over whether he will be fit in time for the England tour.

Masood, who is 36, injured the index finger on his left hand during the first Test. The injury occurred while he was batting. He went on to top-score for Pakistan, finishing with 109 runs in the first innings. Despite the pain, he still walked out to bat at number eight during the second innings.

The Pakistan Cricket Board shared an official update confirming the situation. According to the board, Masood underwent a scan followed by a clinical assessment. He is now being treated by the team’s medical staff.

The board also addressed his chances of playing against England. That series begins on 19 August in Leeds. Whether Masood takes the field will depend entirely on how well he recovers over the coming weeks. Until then, he will stay with the squad and continue his rehabilitation alongside the team.

This injury adds to a growing list of concerns for Pakistan’s touring squad. Just before the first Test kicked off in the Caribbean, the team lost Abdullah Faftzal to a back injury. As a result, Faftzal has been ruled out of both the West Indies and England legs of the tour entirely.

To fill the gap left by Masood, Pakistan has brought in two replacements. Saud Shakeel and Abdullah Shafique have both been added to the squad. Shafique did not need to travel far, since he was already in the Caribbean playing in the ongoing Global Super League 2026.

Attention now turns to the second Test, which starts on 2 August in Port of Spain. West Indies currently hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, putting extra pressure on Pakistan heading into the contest.

With injuries piling up before a crucial away assignment, Pakistan’s management will be hoping for good news on the fitness front soon. The coming days will be crucial, not just for the ongoing series, but also for shaping the squad Pakistan eventually takes into their high-stakes tour of England next month.