Shadab Khan, the leg-spinning all-rounder, is all set to miss the subsequent Test series against New Zealand and South Africa as he has been advised a six-week rest by Pakistan Cricket Board’s medical staff as the national board PCB announced on Saturday (December 26).
Shadab Khan was diagnosed with “high-grade full-thickness tear to the Rectus Femoris muscle”, an injury he had sustained during his side’s four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the 3rd and final Napier T20I earlier this week, and subsequent MRI scans confirmed the injury to his left thigh.
Shadab Khan To Undergo 6 Week Rehabilitation Program
Shadab Khan, however, will remain with the side in New Zealand, where he has started his rehabilitation program under the supervision of the medical team.
Shadab Khan missed the three T20I series against Zimbabwe at Rawalpindi as he suffered from stiffness in his left upper-leg during the first intra-squad warm-up match in Lahore on 23 October.
“The MRI reports have confirmed it is a fresh injury and not the one that had sidelined him from the Zimbabwe series last month,” Sohail Saleem, the Pakistan team doctor, said.
“The latest injury will be treated conservatively and Shadab will undergo a six-week rehabilitation program during which he will have weekly ultrasound scans. After the competition of the six-week period, the medical panel will access and evaluate the injury before making a call on Shadab’s return to competitive cricket.”
The two-Test and three T20I series between Pakistan and South Africa will be played from 26 January to 14 February. South Africa will tour Pakistan and play 2 Tests at Karachi and Rawalpindi and 3 T20Is at Lahore.
Shadab Khan Led Pakistan In 1st T20I
On 18 December 2020, Shadab Khan captained Pakistan team for the first time in an international match, when he led the side in the first T20I against New Zealand. He scored 42 in the first T20I but didn’t do much with either bat or ball in next two T20Is as Pakistan lost the series.
He made his T20I debut for Pakistan against West Indies on 26 March 2017. He recorded the most economical figures for a bowler completing their four overs on debut in a T20I. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut for Pakistan against the West Indies on 7 April 2017. He made his Test debut for Pakistan, also against the West Indies, on 30 April 2017.
Shadab Khan has played 6 Tests, 43 ODIs and 46 T20Is so far and taken above 50 wickets in both limited-overs formats where he averages less than 30 with the ball.