Ihsanullah final performed for Pakistan on his ODI debut in April 2023 and was initially sidelined with an elbow injury which the PCB medical department, led by Dr Sohail Saleem, didn’t absolutely recognize the gravity of. That recreation additionally stays his final on the aggressive degree.
He strongly disputes that there was mismanagement on the a part of the PCB of their treatment of Ihsanullah. “There was no mishandling on this case,” Dr Saleem tells ESPNcricinfo. “I am going to admit there was a delay [in the initial diagnosis], however no mishandling.”
That delay, although, is the main target of a lot scrutiny. Talking to ESPNcricinfo, Sultans proprietor Ali Tareen mentioned that the PCB’s medical department couldn’t decide up an elbow fracture within the scans they performed, and subsequently went about straightening his elbow. Ihsanullah went on to a coaching routine that included fitness center work and common bowling regardless of no affirmation {that a} extra severe injury had been decisively dominated out.
A later scan after repeated complaints of ache revealed a fracture, considerably exacerbated by the stress of the workload he had been put by. Mainstream medical consensus suggests this might have even been career-threatening, or on the very least completely hindered his potential to stay the high-speed tempo bowler he shot to fame with.
Dr Saleem says he suspected Ihsanullah’s injury was worse than it initially appeared. “I mentioned I needed to get recent assessments performed as a result of I suspected it was extra than simply workload syndrome. It was identified as such by the physician who was beforehand right here on the PCB, and never my workforce. A lab that gave us an MRI scan gave us an incorrect prognosis. I ordered the identical scan again, and we picked the fracture up.”
He claims it was his suspicion after Ihansullah complained of ache when he bowled on the very first day. A surgeon was delivered to Pakistan on the recommendation of Dr Saleem, however regardless of the surgical procedure, Ihsanullah’s potential to straighten his elbow remained considerably inhibited.
Dr Saleem says the ache he complained about was a sort of routine “post-surgical ache that everybody feels”. “The restoration interval of an injury this severe is not three months, it is for much longer.”
There have been additionally indicators of a fraying relationship between the bowler and the PCB on this interval. Dr Saleem mentioned Ihsanullah requested to go away the lodging on the Nationwide Cricket Academy supplied by the PCB of his personal accord. He additionally mentioned the participant would usually go for therapeutic massage remedy unauthorised by the PCB, additional hindering his improvement.
“We now have labored on Ihsanullah loads,” contests Dr Saleem. “We spent some huge cash on Ihsanullah, and have now organized for his visa to the UK. However he needed the shortest potential time span to full health. Our rehab relies on recovery-related standards impartial of time.”
In keeping with Tareen, when Dr Javed Mughal, a physiotherapist who works within the UK and is now a advisor with the PCB, was introduced in for a second opinion, it was found there was a separate injury concern with Ihsanullah’s bowling shoulder that had additionally gone undiagnosed. Tareen informed ESPNcricinfo that he believes Ihsanullah will doubtless require additional surgical procedure. Ought to it occur, it’s going to happen within the UK, with the PCB footing the invoice.
Tareen took to Twitter earlier this week to disclose it was Sultans and never the PCB who bore the brunt of his dwelling bills whereas he recovered, saying they might additionally organize for Ihsanullah to journey to England later this month “to be assessed by a world-renowned surgeon”. The present PCB chairman, who was not in situ for the perfect a part of Ihsanullah’s prolonged injury layoff, spoke to Tareen following these feedback, reportedly expressing dissatisfaction on the bowler’s treatment. It’s now believed the PCB will decide up the tab and logistical preparations for Ihsanullah’s restoration.
That yet one other Pakistan quick bowler’s medical treatment left loads to be desired will invariably elevate additional uncomfortable questions for a cricket board that has come under intense scrutiny for bungling quick bowlers’ medical therapies. Quite a few gamers, and training and administration employees, have privately expressed to ESPNcricinfo that there’s a belief deficit between a number of gamers and Dr Saleem, one thing that’s solely more likely to be thrown into sharper reduction now.
Dr Saleem wasn’t round when Shaheen had his injury lay-off, however defends the PCB’s medical administration fiercely, citing the constraints and budgets they work under in comparison with sports activities medication specialists overseas.
“The folks advising me from the UK, I counsel them to come back right here and work inside the setting. I invite them to work right here in these circumstances. There has by no means been a time after we have not performed our greatest for any participant. If UK sports activities science was that particular, Ben Stokes [who pulled out of the T20 World Cup] would have gone to the World Cup.”
Nevertheless, there’s a motive Pakistan supporters are likely to worry the worst when a quick bowler finally ends up injured, and that lack of confidence will solely deepen when conditions like Ihsanullah’s exist. The most effective defence of any sporting medical department comes within the type of wider participant availability, faster restoration instances, and fewer accidents. And, as Ihsanullah’s case illustrates, there may be important room for enchancment.
Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000
