NEW DELHI: Pakistan suffered a massive blow on Saturday as 20-year-old pacer Naseem Shah's recent shoulder injury has cast doubts over his participation in the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup, scheduled to be held in India next month.The unfortunate injury occurred during Pakistan's Super-4 clash against arch-rival India in an Asia Cup match held in Sri Lanka.Shah, a rising star in the cricketing world, walked off the field during the 46th over of the Indian innings after injuring his right shoulder muscle.According to reports from ESPNCricinfo, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) swiftly took action by conducting a thorough analysis of the scans Shah underwent in Dubai.

These scans indicate that the young fast bowler could be sidelined for the remainder of the year, effectively ruling him out of the highly anticipated World Cup.Furthermore, Shah's participation in the upcoming Test series in Australia, scheduled for December, now appears uncertain.

The PCB is currently awaiting the results of a secondary scan, expected to arrive in the coming days, which will provide further insight into the severity of the injury and the necessary course of action.While Shah's absence during the Asia Cup led to his replacement by Zaman Khan, Pakistan ultimately failed to secure a spot in the final.

As fans anxiously await the final verdict on Naseem Shah's injury, Pakistan's cricket team and management are left with the challenging task of devising a strategy and contingency plan for the World Cup in his potential absence.(With inputs from PTI)