Injured Pacers Ruled Out of Upcoming Tours

KARACHI: Due to injuries, pacers Naseem Shah and Aamer Jamal, along with emerging talent Ali Raza, will not be participating in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) forthcoming tours of Bangladesh and the West Indies.

Information indicates that Naseem and Jamal are presently in recovery and need additional time to fully recuperate.

Ali Raza, the 17-year-old who made a strong impression in PSL 10 playing for Peshawar Zalmi, is sidelined because of an eye ailment that impairs his vision under bright lights.

He is set to consult an eye specialist and will be developed through the Pakistan Shaheens program.

As Pakistan cricket transitions, sources suggest that former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and former pacer Sikandar Bakht have been given the informal responsibility of monitoring the selection committee to spot overlooked talent.

Their consistent attendance at selection meetings indicates increasing influence, although the PCB has yet to formally acknowledge their positions.

During a recent selection committee meeting in Lahore, the panel—including Aaqib Javed, international consultant Mike Hesson, and cricketer Salman Ali Agha—collectively supported giving wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir an opportunity in the approaching T20I series.

Mike Hesson is scheduled to arrive in Karachi on July 7, just before the training camp for the Bangladesh series, which is scheduled to commence on July 10.

An official statement from the PCB regarding the roles of Sarfaraz and Bakht is still awaited.

Notably, Ali Raza had an exceptional PSL 10 season, securing 12 wickets in nine matches, averaging 25.25 with an economy rate of 9.18.

In contrast, veteran pacer Naseem Shah had a less impressive tournament, taking nine wickets in 10 matches with an economy rate of 9.30.

Despite being chosen for the T20I series against Bangladesh, Naseem did not participate in any matches, and his involvement in future series remains uncertain.

Pakistan is likely to play a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in July, as proposed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), with a formal announcement still pending.

Following that, the team, led by Salman Agha, will journey to the USA for a three-match ODI and T20I series against the West Indies in August.