Pakistan calls up Shahnawaz Dahani and Zaman Khan as backups

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has made strategic additions to its cricket squad, summoning Shahnawaz Dahani and Zaman Khan as backups.

According to sources, the decision comes after pacers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah encountered minor injuries during a recent match against India.

The sources indicated that the management’s move is primarily a precautionary measure aimed at safeguarding the players’ fitness and well-being, with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup just around the corner.

Meanwhile, Haris and Naseem will continue to be closely monitored by the team’s medical panel and a request for replacements from the ACC technical committee will only be made if either of the players is deemed unfit for the next seven days.

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As per media reports, there is a high likelihood that both Haris and Naseem Shah will miss Pakistan’s final Super 4 match against Sri Lanka on Thursday. Their availability for the final, should Pakistan qualify, remains uncertain.

Furthermore, Pakistan’s head coach Grant Bradburn addressed the status of the two pacers during the post-match press conference following Pakistan’s 228-run loss to India. He stated, “We’re taking a precautionary approach with Haris Rauf & Naseem Shah. We’ll assess them tomorrow. There was no point in sending them out there to bat and potentially worsening any little niggles they’ve got.”