Rawalpindi Pindiz have suffered a major setback in the ongoing Pakistan Super League season, with ace pacer Naseem Shah ruled out for the foreseeable future due to a side injury.
The 23-year-old right-arm quick sustained the injury during the team’s recent clash against Karachi Kings. In a statement released on Monday, team management confirmed that he will remain sidelined while undergoing rehabilitation, with a possible return towards the end of the tournament depending on his recovery.
Tough start worsens for Pindiz
Naseem’s absence compounds a difficult start to the season for the Mohammad Rizwan-led side. The Pindiz have lost all three of their matches so far:
- Defeat to Peshawar Zalmi
- Losses against Karachi Kings and Islamabad United
As a new franchise in the competition, they are still searching for their first win.
Underwhelming performances before injury
Naseem himself has endured a challenging campaign, picking up just one wicket in two matches while conceding runs at an economy rate exceeding 12 per over.
Off-field controversy adds to woes
The injury setback follows a recent controversy involving the pacer. A post from his social media account questioning the treatment of Maryam Nawaz during the PSL opening ceremony sparked widespread debate.
Although Naseem later clarified that his account had been hacked, the Pakistan Cricket Board found him in breach of multiple clauses of his central contract and social media guidelines. He was subsequently fined PKR 2 crore.
Road ahead
With both on-field struggles and off-field distractions mounting, Rawalpindi Pindiz face an uphill task in turning their campaign around—now without one of their premier fast bowlers for a significant period.
