Pakistani seamer Naseem Shah could be a doubtful participant in his side’s direct knock-out Asia Cup 2022 encounter versus Hong Kong on September 2 in Sharjah. The youngster is understood to have still not recovered from the cramps he picked up near the close of the arch-rivals clash with India last Sunday (August 28).
In a clip posted over YouTube by ‘Events & Happenings Sports’, Naseem was seen moving around with his left leg still taped under medical supervision during a Pakistan net session at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai.
The right-arm seamer could be seen walking through gingerly after a small burst with the ball, looking in discomfort while a member of the support staff helped him with the follow-through process as he finished off his action.
Naseem picked up the injury while bowling the 15th over of the Indian run-chase in Dubai. In what were deemed just cramps at the time, the young speedster found it difficult to even celebrate as he dismissed Indian middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav. Knocking off Yadav’s stumps, the bowler started limping and grimacing rather than raising his hands in celebrations like he usually does.
It was the 18th over where Naseem perhaps aggravated the cramp into an untimely injury. The bowler had an LBW appeal against Indian allrounder Ravindra Jadeja going in his favour initially but was immediately down on the turf in visible pain, holding his leg in agony and frustration.
The medical staff was quick to attend the 19-year-old, who did complete the over at half-tilt but immediately went off the field for further attention. After his team’s defeat, Babar Azam was asked to clear the air on Naseem’s injury and the Pakistan skipper alluded to the high-pressure environment and humidity in UAE as a reason behind “cramps“ that his seamer suffered.
But Babar was confident of his recovery for the next match versus Hong Kong, which has been put under doubt now since the video emerged that the young quick is still carrying a tape on his left leg.
