Top Pakistan medical official resigns after mishandling pacer Ihsanullah’s injury

A top medical official with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) put down his papers on Thursday, May 2 after an independent investigation reported fast bowler Ihsanullah’s elbow injury was inappropriately handled.

Dr. Sohail Saleem was the director of the PCB medical and sports sciences. A three-member medical committee said in its report that Saleem recommended an “inappropriate surgeon, lacking the academics and experience in the field” to look after Ihsanullah’s injury.

In April 2023, Pakistan hosted New Zealand for a white-ball series and Ihsanullah suffered a right elbow injury during the campaign. The PCB initially thought that Ihsanullah’s injury was not too serious but the talented speedster was sidelined for almost a year.

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The committee said Ihsanullah’s elbow pain was not addressed, treated, and operated on appropriately, and there was also a delay in getting to the clinical diagnoses.

"He (Ihsanullah) did not receive a formal rehabilitation process as required by his condition,” the committee said as quoted by Sportstar. “His surgery was planned hurriedly without any specialist review and preoperative assessment.” The committee also highlighted “inappropriate prescription of treatment, as well as non-compliance by the fast bowler with the prescribed rehabilitation plan.”

Last month, the Matta-born pacer was sent to the United Kingdom, where he met with an orthopaedic surgeon specialising in sports injuries.

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The committee has recommended that Ihsanullah should continue with aggressive physiotherapy and “surgery may be the last option if he does not recover in six-12 months.” Ihsanullah, who is 21 years old, made his debut for Pakistan in March 2023 in a T20I against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. He has played one ODI and four T20Is so far. The right-arm pacer went wicketless in his only ODI encounter but has taken six wickets in the shortest format of the game at an average of 18 and a strike rate of 14.83. He will hope to recover soon and push his case for a comeback to the national team.