by: Atika Mehboob TN Sport Pakistan:
A potentially serious incident occurred during the second semi-final of the Pakistan Cup 2023-24 between Karachi Whites and Multan at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, raising concerns about the fitness of Pakistan’s newly-appointed Test team captain, Shan Masood. The mishap took place when a high ball from Sohaib Maqsood prompted both Masood and Sarfaraz Ahmed to sprint for the catch, resulting in a harsh collision.
At the 8.2 overs mark, with Multan at 34/2 and Karachi Whites defending a 281-run target, the collision left Masood visibly injured, clutching his ankle in pain. While Sarfaraz managed to recover and resume play, Masood had to walk off the field, leaving spectators and teammates worried about the extent of his injury.
Medical assistance was promptly brought onto the field, causing a momentary pause in the game to attend to Masood’s injury. Notably, prior to the incident, Masood showcased a commendable performance in the first innings, scoring a quick 41 runs off just 38 balls.
Despite the setback, Karachi Whites went on to secure a victory by 43 runs. Masood later shared a picture of the collision on his social media account, accompanied by a humorous caption directed towards Whites’ skipper, Sarfaraz Ahmed.
It is crucial to highlight that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently appointed Masood as the Test captain of the Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team until the conclusion of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. His first major assignment in this role is the upcoming three-match Test series against Australia in Australia, commencing on December 14, 2023.
