According to media reports, pacer Naseem Shah has been contracted with COVID-19. Reports emerge hours after PCB confirmed that the pacer has been diagnosed with pneumonia.
Owing to his health, Shah has been ruled out of the T20I series against England after allegedly testing positive for the virus. He was diagnosed with pneumonia on Wednesday after he was shifted to the hospital.
Pakistani pacer Naseem Shah was admitted to hospital ahead of the fifth T20I between Pakistan and England scheduled on Wednesday at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
Read more: Naseem Shah admitted to hospital ahead of 5th T20I against England
Naseem Shah was taken to hospital earlier due to his fever. At the hospital, doctors made him undergo various tests including a Dengue fever test. His inclusion in the rest of the matches will depend upon the medical reports.
According to media reports, Naseem Shah is unlikely to play today’s match. He was shifted to the hospital after developing a high fever.
National Team management had said that the selection team is seeking the best combination for the remaining matches of the series. Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan were likely to make a comeback to the squad after being rested. Naseem Shah has only played the first T20I match of the seven-match series. Meanwhile, Shadab Khan is expected to play his first T20I against England today.
Naseem Shah rested ahead of the tri-nation series scheduled in New Zealand and the T20 World Cup in Australia next month.
Shah is an emerging pacer in Pakistan cricket. His performances in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2022 have garnered praise from the international cricket fraternity. Interestingly, Naseem Shah made his T20I debut in the Asia Cup 2022 against India. He took seven wickets in five games with an economy of 7.66.
Fans hope Naseem Shah recovers before the T20 World Cup 2022 scheduled next month.