Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has received an on-field injury during the ongoing Group A match of Asia Cup 2018 between India and Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium and left the field in the middle of Pakistan innings with the help of a stretcher.
The incident happened in the 18th over of Pakistan innings, when the 24-year-old right-arm pacer was bowling in his fifth over. On the fifth ball of that over, after Pandya completed his delivery to the set Pakistan batsman Babar Azam, he suffered an acute lower back injury on the follow through. Soon, he slept down on the ground and received some medical treatment before he was being stretchered off the field. In that period, Pakistan was batting on 73/2.
https://twitter.com/videos_shots/status/1042414228462813184
The injury seemed very painful for Pandya. Apart from the Indian fellow cricketers, both the set Pakistan batsmen Shoaib Malik and Babar Azam checked up on him.
Later, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a statement, “Hardik Pandya has an acute lower back injury. He is able to stand at the moment and the medical team is assessing him now. More updates as and when there is one. Manish Pandey is on the field as his substitute.”
After that injury incident, Ambati Rayudu took the ball to complete that over where he didn’t give any runs on that only delivery.
Manish Pandey replaced Pandya on the field where Pandey grabbed a brilliant catch at the boundary side to dismiss the Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed on just 6 runs.
Before leaving the field due to that big injury, the right-arm pacer Pandya bowled 4.5 overs where he conceded 24 runs without taking any wicket (4.5-0-24-0). It is still unsure whether Pandya can bat in this game or have any chance of his availability in this remaining tournament.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
Seeing Pandya go off on stretcher during #IndvPak pic.twitter.com/uylaHUWGOX
— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) September 19, 2018
Only man who could have saved Pandya pic.twitter.com/Jnbu4b0JjP
— Ojas (@Ojasism) September 19, 2018
Never want to see a stretcher on a ground. Didn't look good for Pandya…
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/pandyawarrior/status/1042401273205555201
https://twitter.com/RoshanKrRai/status/1042415995984470016
Update: Pandya suffered a lower back injury. Its the heat that has got to him.
— Sawera Pasha (@sawerapasha) September 19, 2018
. @hardikpandya7 being stretchered off. Hope his injury is not too serious. Take care 🙏🏻 #INDvPAK #AsiaCup2018
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 19, 2018
