Responding swiftly to address potential setbacks, Pakistan has taken the proactive step of including Shahnawaz Dahani and Zaman Khan in their Asia Cup squad. This move comes in light of injuries to pace bowlers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, who sustained minor issues during Pakistan’s recent 228-run loss to India. Their availability for the crucial Super Four stage match against Sri Lanka remains uncertain, as per the ICC.
While the team’s management holds optimism regarding the fitness of Naseem and Rauf for the upcoming encounter, they are not willing to take any chances, especially with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup just around the corner. The Pakistan Cricket Board issued a statement explaining the decision, stating it as a “precautionary measure” aimed at ensuring the players’ well-being and readiness for the global tournament next month. Both players will continue to be closely monitored by the team’s medical experts.
The PCB statement further clarified, “The team management will only request a replacement from the ACC technical committee if Haris or Naseem are ruled out for the next seven days.”
The recent loss to India had significant ramifications for Pakistan, as it pushed Babar Azam’s side down to third place in the Super Four standings. To secure a spot in this year’s final, a victory against Sri Lanka in their upcoming match is likely to be imperative.
Shahnawaz Dahani, a seasoned player, has participated in two One Day Internationals (ODIs) for Pakistan and has an impressive tally of 11 appearances in T20 Internationals (T20Is). In contrast, the 22-year-old Zaman Khan has represented Pakistan only six times in the shortest format of the game (T20Is) and has yet to make his debut in international ODIs.
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-IANS
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