Pakistan Shaheens have lost fast bowler Akif Javed to a knee injury ahead of the ACC Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026 in Doha. The PCB has named Ali Raza as his replacement. The change affects a 15-man squad preparing to defend the title across a compressed 11-day schedule.
Akif Javed Injury: What the PCB Confirmed
Akif Javed was part of the original squad for the eight-team tournament. Medical reports and an MRI scan confirmed a knee injury, and the PCB chose not to risk his fitness.
The left-arm fast bowler had continued to experience discomfort. That persistent issue prompted the selectors to reconsider his place rather than risk aggravating the problem.
Rehabilitation Plan at the NCA
The PCB medical team has asked Akif to complete a structured rehabilitation program with strength and conditioning work. His return will follow a step-by-step bowling program at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
The PCB Medical Department will monitor his progress closely. No return date has been announced.
| Detail | Status |
|---|
| Player | Akif Javed (left-arm fast bowler) |
| Injury | Knee, confirmed by MRI |
| Rehabilitation venue | NCA, Lahore |
| Replacement | Ali Raza |
Ali Raza: The Replacement Option
Ali Raza is currently representing Pakistan in the ongoing ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup 2026. He now moves from the junior level to the Shaheens setup.
This is a like-for-like swap in terms of role, as both are fast bowlers. However, Ali Raza arrives with limited exposure at this level, so his usage will be a key variable for the team management.
Squad Composition After the Change
The updated squad remains at 15 players under captain Abdul Samad. Rohail Nazir is the wicketkeeper, and Mohammad Hasnain and Ali Raza are among the named pace options.
| Category | Details |
|---|
| Squad size | 15 |
| Captain | Abdul Samad |
| Wicketkeeper | Rohail Nazir |
| Changes from original squad | 1 (Akif Javed out, Ali Raza in) |
The full squad is Abdul Samad (C), Ahmed Daniyal, Ali Raza, Danish Aziz, Farhan Yousuf, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Rohail Nazir (WK), Saad Masood, Shahzaib Khan, Shamyl Hussain and Sufyan Moqim.
Tournament Structure and Workload Analysis
The tournament runs from November 19 to 29 in Doha. Eight teams are split into two groups, and the top two from each group advance to the semi-finals.
Pakistan sit in Group B with India, Nepal and the UAE. They are the defending champions.
A team that reaches the final plays up to five matches between November 20 and 29. That is five games in 10 days, which makes pace-bowling depth an important factor.
Pakistan Shaheens Fixtures
| Date | Stage | Opponent | Venue |
|---|
| November 20 | Group B | UAE | University of Doha Science and Technology |
| November 22 | Group B | India A | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
| November 24 | Group B | Nepal | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
| November 26 | Semi-final 1 | TBD | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
| November 27 | Semi-final 2 | TBD | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
| November 29 | Final | TBD | West End Park International Cricket Stadium |
Group matches are spaced two days apart. That gap gives the bowling unit some recovery time before the knockout stage.
Why the Decision Makes Analytical Sense
Managing a knee injury in a short, high-frequency tournament carries clear risk. A recurrence mid-event could leave the squad short of a bowler for several fixtures.
Replacing Akif before the tournament begins removes that uncertainty. It also gives the team a fully fit option for all five potential matches.
Outlook for Pakistan Shaheens
The India A fixture on November 22 is the most closely watched game of the group stage. Pakistan open against the UAE and finish against Nepal, so the bowling attack will be tested across all three group games.
Ali Raza's workload and match conditions in Doha will indicate how the selectors rotate their pace resources. The squad is otherwise unchanged, so the defence of the title depends on how well the replacement fits into the existing attack.