With the official schedule for the 2025 Asia Cup now confirmed, the focus of Pakistani fans has swiftly shifted to the recovery of their vice-captain, Shadab Khan, and whether he will be fit in time for this prestigious tournament.
Shadab Khan after his surgery which will likely keep him out of the Asia Cup
With the official schedule for the 2025 Asia Cup now confirmed, the focus of Pakistani fans has swiftly shifted to the recovery of their vice-captain, Shadab Khan, and whether he will be fit in time for this prestigious tournament.
While the nation had been praying for some better news, all signs point towards Shadab Khan missing the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, dealing a blow to the national side’s T20 plans ahead of a crucial tournament window.
According to reports, medical experts overseeing Shadab’s recovery have advised a minimum three-month rest period. That timeline makes a competitive return before October increasingly unlikely, effectively ruling him out of the continental showpiece scheduled from September 9 to 28 in the UAE.
The PCB has yet to officially confirm his unavailability, but insiders suggest the management is already weighing up backup options, given the injury was to his dominant shoulder. A statement on Shadab’s rehabilitation schedule is expected in the coming weeks.
His absence creates a void in the national T20 side, one that was evident during their series against Bangladesh. Without his contributions with bat and ball, Pakistan failed to deal with the tricky surfaces, suffering a 2-1 series loss.The team will undoubtedly feel the absence of his contributions in the Asia Cup, where Shadab Khan participated in five T20 matches, all of which took place in 2022. He secured 8 wickets during these matches while also adding 54 runs.
Furthermore, Shadab Khan’s absence from the Asia Cup removes a vital leadership element, as his experience in high-pressure situations would have been essential for Pakistan’s success in critical games, such as the one against India.
The issue of who will take his place continues to be unresolved. Mike Hesson has placed his confidence in Mohammad Nawaz for a similar position, but the outcomes have been disappointing thus far.
With less than two months remaining until the tournament, time is running out for the PCB to finalize its strategies, both regarding personnel and organizational structure, as the national team prepares for one of its most demanding T20 cycles in recent history.
Although Shadab Khan might be absent from the Asia Cup, the Pakistan cricket team will be pleased to have their star player return prior to the T20 World Cup next year.
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