Shadab Khan’s Asia Cup participation in doubt after shoulder surgery

Shadab Khan is set to undergo shoulder surgery today (Friday) in London. The all-rounder will miss the upcoming series against Bangladesh and the West Indies, and his participation in the Asia Cup also appears doubtful. It is expected that he will need 6 to 12 weeks to fully recover.

According to details, Shadab Khan was named vice-captain under skipper Salman Ali Agha for the tour of New Zealand and the subsequent home series against Bangladesh. During the Pakistan Super League (PSL), he led Islamabad United, but the team failed to defend their title. In the three-match home series against Bangladesh, Shadab took 4 wickets and scored 55 runs across two innings.

This month, the national team is scheduled to tour Bangladesh in return, but Shadab will not be available due to a shoulder injury, which has now necessitated surgery in London on Friday. The recovery process is expected to take between 6 and 12 weeks, which rules him out of the West Indies series and casts serious doubt on his availability for the Asia Cup.

Sources reveal that Shadab had been experiencing shoulder discomfort for some time, which made it difficult for him to throw the ball. The situation worsened during the series against Bangladesh when he began to struggle even while bowling googlies. While on holiday in England, he underwent an MRI scan, which revealed the severity of the injury. A doctor advised immediate surgery, and Shadab, considering that he is only 26 years old and has a long career ahead, decided not to take any risks.

He remains determined to lead Pakistan to victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which was also a major factor behind his decision to opt for surgery now. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is aware of the situation, and since Shadab is a centrally contracted player, the medical expenses are likely to be covered by the board.

It is worth mentioning that, to date, Shadab Khan has represented Pakistan in 6 Test matches, 70 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 112 T20 Internationals, scoring a total of 1,947 runs and taking 211 wickets across all formats.