PSL 2026: Naseem Shah stretchered off field in first game after recovering from side strain

More than a couple of weeks of missed cricketing action due to a side strain saw Naseem Shah make a return for Rawalpindi Pindiz in their penultimate game of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 against Islamabad United on Thursday, April 23. In an unfortunate event at the National Stadium, Karachi, Naseem had to be stretchered off the ground owing to an injury to his knee while fielding.

The fielding injury occurred in the 16th over of the innings as he twisted his knee while trying to stop a boundary. He lay down and was unable to get up, but the medical staff arrived with a stretcher and took the fast bowler off the ground. Notably, Naseem could not return to the ground for the rest of the match, as the Rawalpindi-based side confirmed the same via an official statement.

"Naseem Shah is out of the field because of [a] knee injury he has suffered while fielding. The medical team is assessing his condition," the franchise stated as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

For the unversed, Naseem had already bowled a couple of overs before the injury and was expected to finish his four-over quota during the death overs, but an injury right ahead ruled out the possibility, and the pacer was substituted by a benched player. Naseem had conceded only nine runs in the two overs he delivered, while accounting for the vital breakthrough of Mohammad Faiq.

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Naseem's little contributions with the ball mattered a lot, though, as the Rawalpindiz won their maiden match of the season, having lost eight on the trot in what has been a rather pathetic start to their PSL debut.

The Mohammad Rizwan-led side has already been eliminated from the tournament and will be signing off from the marquee event after their last league stage game on Sunday, April 26, against the Hyderabad Kingsmen. Even if he is fit, Naseem may be seen warming the bench to keep him fresh ahead of the international assignments for Pakistan.