Naseem Shah underwent scans, and the primary results were worse than expected. The fast bowler could get sidelined from the game.

Reports suggest that Pakistan is mulling over inclusion of Zaman Khan, Muhammad Hasnain or Hasan Ali in the World Cup squad but a final decision may emerge after Naseem Shah goes through another checkup.

Naseem Shah was initially a Test bowler but impressed the selectors with his performances in the limited-overs formats. It led to a significant increase in his workload.

He returned to the scene but sustained a shoulder injury on his County Championship debut with Gloucestershire after six months.

It is pertinent to mention that Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf make up one of the most potent pace attacks.

Asia Cup 2023 proved to be a disappointing affair for several reasons. Babar Azam’s captaincy and inconsistent performances by the players came under severe criticism from pundits and fans.

Moreover, the Pakistan camp got hit by injuries. Haris Rauf missed the tournament due to a side strain, and Salman Ali Agha suffered a blow to the face in the India fixture.

Imam-ul-Haq was sidelined from the virtual semi-final against Sri Lanka because of a back spasm, and Saud Shakeel also missed the game due to a fever.