Not the best way to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2024. Pakistan’s Director of Cricket, Mohammad Hafeez, was removed after serving for just 3 months; their white-ball coach, Gary Kirsten, is yet to join them; and now their Director of Medical and Sports Sciences, Dr. Sohail Saleem, has stepped down from his role with less than one month left before the mega-event kicks off.
The reason behind their medical chief stepping down is the flurry of injuries they’ve faced over the past couple of months and the mismanagement of their fast bowler, Ihsanullah. The pacer has been out of action since April last year and has undergone elbow surgery as well.
Fired or stepped down?
According to the latest press release by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ihsanullah’s injury wasn’t managed well. Despite surgeries and recovery, his condition hasn’t improved. Apart from Ihsanullah, star players like Mohammed Rizwan and Azam Khan are also out injured. The statement from PCB read:
“The committee concludes that Ihsanullah’s condition of right elbow pain was not addressed, treated and operated appropriately. There was a delay in reaching the clinical diagnoses and investigations. He did not receive a formal rehabilitation process as required by his condition.”
“His surgery was planned hurriedly without any specialist review and preoperative assessment. The surgeon recommended by Director of Medical and Sports Sciences was inappropriate, lacking the academics and experience in the field.”
“Postoperatively, Mr Ihsanullah was not fully compliant to the rehabilitation protocols as alleged by the PCB officials. He continues to have medial elbow pain along with shoulder dyskinesia. He has significant elbow stiffness for which surgery is not advised currently as per advice of national and international appropriate experts in the specialty shoulder and elbow.
“However, we strongly believe that in view of the talent possessed by Ihsanullah, he be physically assessed on his arrival to Pakistan whereby an appropriate rehabilitation plan be developed in a multidisciplinary fashion, including consideration of hydrodilation and the same be implemented to provide the best chance to the player to live up to his potential again.”
