Ali Tareen: “It’s devastating that one mistake has impacted such a talented player’s career. While he still bowls at 130-135 kph, he was once our 155 kph bowler”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has admitted that Pakistan fast bowler Ihsanullah won’t bowl at 155 kph again since his injury was misdiagnosed and he underwent a botched surgery.
Ihsanullah became famous during the 2023 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), also known as PSL 8, when he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker with 22 wickets in 12 matches for the Sultans at an average of 15.77.
Following this, he was almost immediately called up to the Pakistan team and proceeded to feature in four T20Is, where he picked up six wickets at an average of 18.
The 22-year-old also got the chance to make his ODI debut, but failed to get a wicket in the match.
Tareen noted that a “top surgeon” confirmed Ihsanullah cannot straighten his arm fully due to the surgical procedure he underwent and this “one mistake” will have an everlasting impact on his bowling as he is hitting speeds of 130 to 135 kph right now.
“We consulted a top surgeon, who gave us the unfortunate news that Ihsanullah’s arm cannot straighten completely because of scarring from a botched earlier surgery. This means he will not be able to bowl as he once did,” Tareen was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
“It’s devastating that one mistake has impacted such a talented player’s career. While he still bowls at 130-135 kph, he was once our 155 kph bowler.”
Along with his elbow issue, Ihsanullah also suffered from a shoulder injury. However, he made his comeback during the Champions T20 Cup, where he finished with two wickets in four matches for the Dolphins at an average of 62.50.
The Matta native was also not selected by any team in the PSL 10 player draft.
He was not selected for Pakistan’s recent tour of South Africa, where the men in green lost the T20I series 2-0 before bouncing back to win the ODIs 3-0.
As for the two-Test series, Pakistan were whitewashed 2-0.
Pakistan are now facing the West Indies in a two-Test series, which they lead 1-0 after winning the 1st Test in Multan by 127 runs.
The 2nd Test will start on January 25 in Multan.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha