Shadab Khan likely to miss Asia Cup 2025 due to injury
The 26-year-old all-rounder underwent surgery in the United Kingdom earlier in July after aggravating the issue that had already ruled him out of Pakistan's recent T20I assignments against Bangladesh and the ongoing West Indies tour.
It is estimated that Shadab will require a minimum of three months to achieve full fitness, making a return before October improbable.
This timeframe effectively sidelines him from the Asia Cup, which is set to take place in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28.
Read more: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2553598/shadab-khan-set-to-undergo-surgery-for-shoulder-injury-report
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet confirmed any replacement for the T20 vice-captaincy.
During the recent series against Bangladesh, no deputy was named in Shadab's absence, and the squad currently touring the Caribbean also lacks a designated second-in-command to stand-in skipper Salman Ali Agha.
An official update on Shadab's rehabilitation timeline has yet to be released by the PCB.
Meanwhile, the Asian Cricket Council has confirmed the tournament schedule, with Pakistan set to begin their campaign against Oman on September 12. A highly anticipated clash with rivals India is scheduled for September 14 in Dubai.
This year's edition of the Asia Cup will be contested in the T20 format, acting as a preparatory event for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The tournament will feature eight sides split across two groups. Group A includes Pakistan, India, UAE and Oman, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
The event will open with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong on September 9, with the final set for September 28.
Should Pakistan and India advance to the Super Four stage, a second showdown between the two could potentially happen on September 21.
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