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With just about 48 hours left for the blockbuster Indo-Pak fixtures in the 2022 T20 World Cup, Pakistan have been hit with a major injury scare as top-order batter Shan Masood had to be taken to hospital after suffering a freakish injury in the nets near the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday (October 21).
It has emerged that a shot from all-rounder Mohammaz Nawaz hit Masood in the head as the Babar Azam-led side amped up preparation for the tournament opener against India on Sunday (October 23) in Melbourne. The severity of Masood’s injury is yet to be determined and an official statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on his status is expected soon.
In visuals that emerged from the ground, Masood was in excessive pain and lied on the ground for a long period of time while being attended by the medical staff. Nawaz who accidently caused the incident was visibly distraught and fell to his knees as his teammate was being treated.
Masood made his T20I debut for the Pakistan team only last month in the 7-match home series against England and has now become a regular member of the side. However, he faces a tough fight for a place in the playing XI for the clash against India with Fakhar Zaman back in the reckoning following his recovery from injury.
While Masood’s injury is a big blow, the Babar Azam-led side have received many boosts on the fitness table coming into the major event. Alongside Fakhar, star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has recovered in time from the knee injury which kept him out of action from July.
The left-arm pacer looked at his menacing best in the warm-up matches with a stunning toe-crushing yorker from causing Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz an injury as he had to carry off the field with support from his teammates at the Gabba.
