Pakistan’s cricket team is grappling with a pace bowling crisis during the ongoing 2023 Asia Cup as injuries continue to plague not only their current options but their backup options as well.

Pakistan pacers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah picked up niggles in the match against India in Colombo on Monday.

As a result, Shahnawaz Dahani and Zaman Khan were called as their backups, while Mohammad Hasnain, Shahnawaz Dahani and Hassan Ali weren’t taken into consideration.

Taking to social media, General Manager of Quetta Gladiators, Nabeel Hashmi, explained the reason why these pacers weren’t called up instead of Dahani and Hassan.

“Pakistan’s back up pace options are also suffering from injuries which is why @MHasnainPak IhsanUllah have not been picked and Zaman Khan & Dahani have been called up. @RealHa55an is too recovering from the injury he suffered in @LPLT20 #AsiaCup”, Hashmi wrote on ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter).

Pakistan’s back up pace options are also suffering from injuries which is why @MHasnainPak IhsanUllah have not been picked and Zaman Khan & Dahani have been called up.@RealHa55an is too recovering from the injury he suffered in @LPLT20 #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/IHYdv0EVLT

— Nabeel Hashmi (@iNabeelHashmi) September 12, 2023

Previously, Ihsanullah, who was initially signed by the Oval Invincibles for The Hundred, was ruled out due to an unfortunate injury. Similarly, Hassan Ali had to leave Lankan Premier League midway due to a finger injury.

Meanwhile, Salman Ali Agha’s participation in the upcoming match against Sri Lanka scheduled for September is also hanging in the balance due to an injury he sustained during the Pakistan-India match.

According to sources, there is uncertainty surrounding Agha’s availability. The right handed batter suffered an injury when he top-edged a sweep off Ravindra Jadeja at 20.6 overs, resulting in a blow to his face.