KARACHI: Pace bowler Shahnawaz Dahani has received Sri Lankan visa and he will leave for Colombo tonight for the ongoing Asia Cup
The 25-year-old will join the Pakistan camp tomorrow and if Pakistan qualifies for the final, he will be available.
Dahani trained extensively at the National Stadium after he was named as one of the backups for the tournament alongside Zaman Khan.
Earlier, uncapped pacer Zaman Khan replaced Naseem Shah for the remaining matches of Asia Cup.
Naseem Shah, 20, has been advised by medical panel to rest before the World Cup scheduled in India from next month. The medical panel will continue to examine Naseem Shah.
Meanwhile, Haris Rauf was not allowed to bowl against India as a precaution on the reserve day. The right-arm pacer has a side strain and is rapidly improving.
Zaman Khan reached Colombo earlier today and joined the team for the remainder of the tournament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) called up Zaman and Dahani as backups for Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, who picked up injuries during the Green Shirts' Super Four clash against India on Monday.
The decision was taken as a precautionary measure keeping in mind that the World Cup 2023 is just around the corner.
"Pakistan have called up Shahnawaz Dahani and Zaman Khan as backups," the PCB said in a brief statement.
"The two have been called up after Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah picked up niggles in the match against India.
"This is only a precautionary measure keeping in mind the fitness and well-being of the players ahead of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup next month.
The World Cup 2023 begins in October and Pakistan don't want to take any kind of risks with their primary pacers.
Pakistan's next and last match of the Super Four will be against Sri Lanka, with the winner qualifying for the final against India on September 17.
However, rain is likely to play spoilsport during the Pakistan- Sri Lanka and the other remaining matches of the event.
According to The Weather Channel, there are 86 percent chances of rain on September 14 in Colombo which would affect the Pakistan-Sri Lanka match.
Atique ur Rehman Atique ur Rehman is a senior reporter for Geo News.
