The cricket lovers in Pakistan were disappointed by pacer Naseem Shah’s exclusion from ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. The fast bowler couldn’t make it in the playing XI due to a shoulder injury. The exclusion of 20-year-old seamer from the national squad was indeed a bad news for the fans and pacer himself. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) brought pacer Hassan Ali back in the team as a replacement for Naseem. Naseem said that he will miss being "a part of this amazing team that will be representing our beloved country".

Another young talent of Pakistan, Mohammad Haris showed his support for Naseem in a very funny way. The wicketkeeper-batter offered his ‘shoulder’ to Naseem to enable him to play the mega tournament. "Naseem mera shoulder lele [Naseem, take my shoulder]," an edited picture of Haris said. The edited picture was from a Pakistan Super League Match and Haris shared it on X, formerly Twitter with a caption ‘Stay strong dost’. Naseem thanked Haris in his response and wished him good luck for the mega event as the later will accompany the national squad as a reserve player in the tournament.

Naseem got injured during the Pakistan-India match in the recently concluded Asia Cup and has been advised a surgery. It will take three to four months to recover completely, said the doctors. “Following thorough medical examinations and consultations with leading medical experts, Naseem has been advised to undergo surgery,” the PCB said in a statement issued while announcing the squad for the ICC World Cup 2023. Pakistan's pace attack would be led by Shaheen Shah Afridi and he would be supported by Haris Rauf, Mohammed Waseem, and Hassan Ali.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)