Shan Masood taken for scans after hit on the head

Pakistan batter Shan Masood has been taken to hospital for scans after suffering a freak injury during practice at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday (October 21). The 33-year-old was struck on the side of his head while waiting for his turn to bat. Masood collapsed to the ground in pain upon being struck and was tended to by the team doctor. Thankfully, he could walk off the nets area and was subsequently taken to the hospital for further investigation of the injury.

Given it’s a head injury, Masood is likely to be kept under observation and faces an anxious wait in case he’s cleared to play Pakistan’s T20 World Cup opener against India on Sunday. The left-hander was recently called up to the T20I squad and has played each of his 12 games in the format in the last one month, scoring two fifties along the way.

Later in the day, PCB stated that all of Masood’s neurological observations are normal and that his CT scan only shows superficial bruising where the ball struck him. The board has also said that he will be re-tested for a concussion on Saturday (October 22).

Should Masood miss the India game, Pakistan could bring back Fakhar Zaman into the XI after the southpaw was recently drafted back into the 15-man squad, replacing Usman Qadir. Zaman has just returned from a knee injury and even underwent a fitness test in Brisbane during Pakistan’s washed-out warm-up game against Afghanistan on Wednesday.