ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris has been added to Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad as the replacement for Fakhar Zaman, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after aggravating a pre-existing knee injury. Haris was already a part of Pakistan’s camp as one of the traveling reserves alongside Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir.
ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Injury blow for Pakistan as Mohammad Haris replaces big-name batter, Follow T20 WC Live
Zaman had injured his knee during the Asia Cup around seven weeks back, and although he showed immense resilience and willpower to recover in time for the tournament, Zaman and the team management were always aware of the risks. And after such a short recovery period, the aggravated injury will prevent him from featuring again Down Under. The left-hander played only one match for Pakistan in this tournament and that was against the Netherlands on October 30, where he scored 20 from 16 deliveries.
“We know that Fakhar had a knee injury in Asia Cup about seven weeks ago, he has been incredibly brave, resilient and has worked really hard to come back into the team. He had an extensive rehabilitation and after which he made his way back into the team,” Dr. Najeeb Soomro, Pakistan team’s doctor and PCB’s chief medical officer, told the media in Sydney.
“Obviously with any knee injury, it takes time for it to have 100 percent recovery. Fakhar and the team understood the risks coming into the tournament and we got him into the tournament. You saw how he performed in the last match. Unfortunately, he had a bit of twist which aggravated his injury. We have had scans on him which have shown no new injury. However, he doesn’t feel 100 percent.”
The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad. The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 consists of Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager – Cricket (Chair); Chris Tetley, ICC Head of Events; Peter Roach, Cricket Australia, Shane Doyle, Men’s T20 World Cup Local Organising Committee; Shaun Pollock (Independent) and Ian Bishop (Independent).
21-year-old Mohammad Haris has played only four ODIs and a T20I for Pakistan and he will have the enormous task of filling the boots of Zaman, a player with an experience of 72 T20Is and more than 1000 runs to his name.
Pakistan have two further Super 12 matches to play, against South Africa and Bangladesh.
ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Injury blow for Pakistan as Mohammad Haris replaces big-name batter, Follow T20 WC Live
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