The 2019 ICC World Cup as not been the kindest to Afghanistan. Tipped to be the king-makers with their ability to surprise many, the minnow nation has had a torrid start to their campaign and are placed at the bottom of the points table after losing their three games so far.
And as if that was not enough, the team has had to deal with a few injury bowls too. But none has been as worse as the one to their wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad. The 32-year-old was asked to return home from the UK after a knee injury that he sustained during their warm-up game aggravated because of his involvement in the two matches of the competitions.
"I have no problem or injury & fully fit but @ACBofficials pulled me out of the squad by force without any consultation"Says @MShahzad077 who is ruled out of @cricketworldcup due to knee injury in his recent voice clip to a media in #Kabl as he is set to return home tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/tqagZST9c2
— M.ibrahim Momand (@IbrahimReporter) June 8, 2019
Though the Afghanistan side named the 18-year old Ikram Ali Khan as Shahzad’s replacement, the opening batsman has come out as stated that he was asked to leave as the board didn’t want him to be a part of the team. He also said that he has been fully fit and there was no knee injury, which was said to the reason for him being asked to return.
While Shahzad has said that such a decision was taken without his consultation, we are yet to hear from the board on this matter. In the two games that he played, the 32-year-old could muster just seven runs against Australia and Sri Lanka. The opening batsman has been a part of the Afghanistan set up for long and has been responsible for handing his side solid starts at the top of the batting order, a role he’s played to perfection during his side’s resurgence as a cricketing power.
Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Geoff Caddick
