- May 7, 2025
There’s nothing quite like the sting of watching your team’s captain limping off the field mid-season, especially when that captain is Shadab Khan. Islamabad United fans felt that gut punch recently when Shadab picked up a groin injury while batting against Peshawar Zalmi. He didn’t bowl, didn’t field, and eventually didn’t even make the squad for the next clash against Quetta Gladiators. But what does that mean for United, a team that started the season with fireworks and now finds itself wobbling slightly just as the playoffs loom?
Shadab’s Bowling Renaissance: The Backbone of United’s Surge
Let’s be honest—Shadab has always played with flair with the bat, but it’s his return to bowling form that PSL fans have been gushing about. Nine wickets at an astonishing economy rate of 6.70? That is elite, and particularly for a T20 tournament watched mostly by spectators who enjoy the batting and scoring, often with no regard for the risks associated. What is even more impressive is that no other legspinner in this year’s PSL has had that level of control—most have been averaging closer to 7.6 or higher.
And that’s the kicker. Losing a legspinner with that kind of discipline in the middle overs isn’t just a tactical blow—it messes with the whole tempo of United’s bowling attack. Shadab hasn’t just been taking wickets; he’s been putting the brakes on scoring, giving United a mid-innings stranglehold. Without him, opposition teams have a little more breathing room—and they’re taking full advantage.
Can Agha Salman Step Up?
Leadership in cricket is not just calling the toss and making a decision on the field, it’s about presence — that one player on the field who has energy and ensures all the players are switched on. When Shadab was unavailable, Salman Agha was the captain; while he is a good player and smart cricketer, he was missing something.
Against the Gladiators in Lahore, United looked off-balance. The final-over defeat was a thriller, sure, but it also underlined how fine the margins are in this league. One wrong move, one missed call, and the match slips away. That’s where an experienced campaigner like Shadab usually shines—his instinctive field placements and bowling changes have pulled United out of the fire on more than one occasion.
The Playoff Picture: Timing Is Everything
Here’s the silver lining—United’s early-season rampage (five wins on the trot) means they’re still sitting pretty close to the playoffs. But the timing of Shadab’s injury couldn’t be more frustrating. With just a handful of games left, and the competition heating up, momentum is everything.
The team has roped in a UK-based doctor to fully diagnose the groin issue, which suggests they’re taking no risks with their skipper. The hope is that he’ll be fit for the business end of the season—and that might just be the difference between a playoff appearance and a trophy lift.
But groin injuries are tricky. Rush it, and you risk a re-aggravation. Play it safe, and you might miss your best player when it counts most. United is threading a fine needle here.
As Shadab Khan is now almost certain to be unavailable for another important home fixture against the Gladiators, Islamabad United are facing a crossroads. Can their bowling unit hold the fort without him?
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