The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) faces a significant reshuffling within its medical department following the resignation of its chief medical officer, Dr. Sohail Saleem. This departure comes on the heels of a damning review into the mismanagement of fast bowler Ihsanullah’s injury. An investigation led by an independently appointed three-member Medical Committee disclosed serious lapses in the medical handling of Ihsanullah’s elbow pain, which called into question the clinical practices of the PCB’s medical unit.
The committee, comprised of esteemed medical professionals including Prof. Rana Dilawaiz Nadeem, Dr. Mumraiz Naqshband, and Prof. Javed Akram, was charged with scrutinizing the treatment of Ihsanullah’s injury. Their investigation unearthed that Ihsanullah’s right elbow pain was egregiously “not addressed, treated and operated appropriately.” Their findings highlight a critical delay in Dr. Saleem’s diagnosis and subsequent investigations, leading to the lack of a formal rehabilitation process that was essential for the athlete’s condition.
A press statement released by the PCB encapsulated the committee’s evaluations and verdicts. The committee found that the decisions approaching Ihsanullah’s surgery were made in haste, without a specialist review or a thorough preoperative assessment, thereby neglecting standard medical procedures. Alarmingly, the surgeon recommended by the former Director of Medical and Sports Sciences was deemed ill-suited for the procedure due to an apparent deficiency in experience and academic qualifications related to the specialty field.
In the aftermath of the operation, contrary to the PCB officials’ claims, Ihsanullah was reportedly not in full adherence to the rehabilitation protocols. His situation remains concerning, enduring persistent medial elbow pain in conjunction with shoulder dyskinesia. Current evaluations suggest he is grappling with considerable elbow stiffness, a condition for which surgery is not advocated at present, as per the consensus of national and international experts in shoulder and elbow care.
Moving forward, the committee has prescribed a regimen of aggressive physiotherapy and rehabilitation targeted at the 21-year-old pacer’s right elbow and shoulder. This recommendation is issued with the caveat that surgery may still be considered as a last resort should the bowler not exhibit recovery signs within the subsequent six to twelve months.
Ihsanullah, a promising talent for Pakistan cricket, last represented the national team in a One-Day International (ODI) against New Zealand on April 29, 2023. Since then, his career has been on pause due to the injury and the resultant mismanagement by PCB’s medical staff. The questions now raised go beyond the competencies of a single physician or medical officer, but rather underscore issues about the systemic medical protocols in place or the lack thereof within the PCB’s sporting fraternity.
The resignation signals a dire need for a comprehensive overhaul within the PCB’s medical operations, ensuring all athletes receive the most advanced and accurate medical attention, prioritizing their health and their careers. It is imperative that rigorous standards are instated, proper channels for decision making are established, and consistent monitoring procedures are set in place to prevent the recurrence of such adverse medical oversights.
In a sports climate where the health and fitness of players are paramount, the PCB is now under scrutiny to rebuild its medical department, instill robust protocols, and restore confidence in its ability to safeguard its players’ well-being. As the PCB navigates through this debacle, all eyes will be on the board’s next steps to rectify the medical lapses that have put the careers of its athletes like Ihsanullah at risk.
