Shadab doubtful for World Cup after dentist mishap

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

Shadab doubtful for World Cup after dentist mishap

Agencies Published May 3, 2019

Rising Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan is in doubt for the upcoming ICC World Cup after contracting hepatitis from a dentist’s unsterilised instruments. — Photo courtesy Shadab Khan Twitter/File

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LAHORE: Rising Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan is in doubt for the upcoming ICC World Cup after contracting hepatitis from a dentist’s unsterilised instruments.

Blood tests revealed the 20-year-old leg-spinner had contracted the disease, ruling him out of Pakistan’s tour of England.

After a checkup with a UK-based doctor, the Pakistan Cricket Board issued a statement with an update on Shadab’s condition.

“Shadab had a check-up with Dr Patrick Kennedy, a world renowned gastroenterologist and hepatologist who specialises in liver disease in elite sportsmen and was put on medication,” the PCB statement read.

The young cricketer will have further blood tests in two weeks in Lahore, which will likely determine his availability for the World Cup, the PCB statement added.

The talented spinner was included in Pakistan’s 15-man squad for the World Cup, and has been a regular feature of the national team since his debut in 2017.In his 34 ODIs, Shadab has bagged 47 wickets.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2019

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WorldCup19

Sport

Shadab faces more blood tests upon return to Pakistan

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Shadab off to England for treatment

Aslam

May 03, 2019 10:08am

How poor and uneducated are these pakistani cricketers

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Nabz

May 03, 2019 10:51am

Unbelievable. every now and then there is a mishap from a doc in Pakistan. So many cases due to pure negligence or a fake doc in the worst case scenario. Now due to this dentist's carelessness we have lost our main wicket taker for the WC. What a shame.

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Shah Jee

May 03, 2019 11:14am

Hopefully its not serious but I was also not happy to see him in world cup squad. An average leg spinner in English condition will go for big runs.

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Anonymouseeeee

May 03, 2019 11:41am

Wishing you a very speedy recovery Shadab.

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Harris

May 03, 2019 11:52am

The dentist should be sued. Bye bye world cup.

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Kashif

May 03, 2019 11:54am

@Aslam, they might be poor but they don't have a complex like you.

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noor ali

May 03, 2019 11:55am

Not only uneducated but stupid, now we have another stupid guy in Shahid Afridi claiming he was 19 and not 16 when he made his debut. If he knew his real age, then why lie about it for all those years, until he retired from Int cricket. That just speaks volume about Pakistan as a nation.

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Jamshed

May 03, 2019 12:09pm

There goes the world cup folks.

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Niks

May 03, 2019 12:18pm

@Aslam, what's the fault of the cricketer? even the educated believe in doctors blindly. Human life is precious whether cricketer or not. Sad these things do happen in India as well despite having advanced medical facilities. The problem is many people can't avail the expensive services so they resort to cheap options. But not sure why this cricketer didn't go to a renowned doctor?

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Abbassin

May 03, 2019 12:18pm

@Aslam, and how poor is your understanding of the article? I suggest you read it again, and you may find that it was through no fault of his that he contracted Hepatitis-it was the mistake of the dentist, who used unsterilized instruments.

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Faraz

May 03, 2019 01:23pm

As if we were going to win anyway.

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LoneWolf

May 03, 2019 02:02pm

Very, very unfortunate. Everyone is speculating that the winners this time would be one amongst England, Australia, India or West Indies. But I strongly feel Pakistan is the dark horse. I remember watching him in the CT Finals against us, he looked promising. This will be a big blow for Pakistan if he loses out

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Waseem Sarwar

May 03, 2019 02:26pm

Quick and full recovery mate. One of the best leg spinners in the world and more than handy lower order batsman and best fielder. Hopefully, that dentist is sued for negligence.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

May 03, 2019 03:02pm

What a grave, gruesome, gigantic and great tragedy?

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Majid

May 03, 2019 03:07pm

@Harris, The Government should routinly check the instruments being used by the dentists if they are sterilized.

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Asif jamil

May 03, 2019 03:21pm

I am assuming he saw the dentist in Pakistan. Generally the standard of hygiene in Pakistan is very poor. I wish he had seen my very professional dentist in Islamabad & played in the World Cup!

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amir

May 03, 2019 04:03pm

was this doc on PCB panel? Shows how our administration make money by hiring substandard doctors who will send a big bill, and split the fee

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Yasser

May 03, 2019 04:25pm

@Shah Jee, I think you should stick to watching cricket.

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Zaman

May 03, 2019 04:35pm

@Aslam, if the report is correct then this is an iatrogenic transmission . Mr. Khan is a victim of unsafe medical practice. The real fault lies with the dentist who is responsible for the transmission of such infections . If unsafe practices exist it is possible that other infections with more dire consequences could also be transmitted . This event should help recognize the threat of such practice by health professionals and force the authorities to institute and implement standards of care that are standardized and uniformly enforced . Anything less would lead to such disasters. The cricketer is not to blame for this. Luckily modern therapies can cure this in 3 months although the cost is high. The dentist should bear the cost of treatment, pain and suffering.

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optimist

May 03, 2019 05:23pm

When fake doctors start treating patients this is what happens. Action should be taken against this doctor. Shadab Khan is a key player and will be greatly missed.

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Iftikhar Khan

May 03, 2019 05:36pm

This is not good news. Hope he is resilient and take good care of himself.

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May 03, 2019 05:52pm

Is this the level of hospitals in Pakistan??

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Ryan Arden

May 03, 2019 06:03pm

@Aslam, Why would you say that ?

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TOMATO

May 03, 2019 06:10pm

@Ryan Arden, Because it is true

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H L

May 03, 2019 06:45pm

@Aslam, Really, is this what you see? Its malpractice of orthodontist. No where is mentioned he was getting his tooth removed/ clean on road side. I wish him speedy recovery.

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Omar

May 03, 2019 06:45pm

Which street quack did he go to?

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Nasir A.

May 03, 2019 07:04pm

Sportsmen of his calibre should only be allowed to obtain treatment from selected and approved medics. Such issues would have been avoided as a result. Very sad we lose such a capable cricketer to such negligence

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Pure ind

May 03, 2019 07:38pm

Strange that instead of visiting reputed doctors Pakistani players visit local quacks from the galli muhallah. This is shear negligence due to lack of education. What if he would have been prescribed some banned substance as medicine??

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Zulfiqar

May 03, 2019 08:00pm

@Aslam, how could he have known that the dentist’s instruments were not sterilized. If he was rich and educated he could still have ended up in the same situation.

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Fahim salim

May 03, 2019 08:06pm

Wont make a difference. We have no chances even to reach semis. Any way best of luck to our team.

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Kashif

May 03, 2019 09:02pm

@Nasir A., so now you know why the PCB is a problem. Whilst other boards will pay for medical check ups and dental check ups, the PCB says go and get them yourself. All this while Mr Wasim Khan takes a huge salary for doing what exactly? Has he unearthed any talent?

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ranu

May 03, 2019 09:34pm

Unsterlized mdeical instruments used??? Surprising. What kind of doctor he was?

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Detroit99

May 03, 2019 10:24pm

He should sue the doctor.

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N. Rahim, Toronto

May 03, 2019 10:28pm

@Aslam, What has a dentists unsterilized equipment has anything to do with cricketers education and wealth?

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Harry

May 03, 2019 11:07pm

Wow. In this age a international cricket can get . Very poor on PCB. Hope he gets well soon

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Jigar

May 04, 2019 01:35am

@Aslam, why are you blaming cricketers. This is the dentist's fault. I hope you never have a mishap like this.

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Jimmy

May 04, 2019 01:40am

I blame PCB for mishandling the wellbeing of our players. Whether its injuries, use of banned substances or mishaps like this, PCB should be held accountable. They simply do not look after players properly. The least you could have done is advise the players.

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Damn fund

May 04, 2019 08:10am

Why was he sent to doctor from rawalpindi than India or England. Major worry

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Nasir

May 04, 2019 08:12am

It is time in Pakistan to regularize doctors, hospitals and pharmacists. Minimum standards in healthcare must be formed just like in the US, healthcare standards are high and regularized. A similar approach is needed otherwise tomorrow Pakistan will lose another brilliant person in any field of expertise. This time it was a cricketer tomorrow it could be an inventor.

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Dawn

May 04, 2019 08:59am

Wish him well but is he really that talented? I don’t think so.

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M A MUJEEB, CANADA

May 04, 2019 11:44am

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, as usual too many adjectives used. Superflous.

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Sujoy Mitra

May 04, 2019 05:56pm

Very naive for Shadab! Even in India the quacks uses sterilized ones, how is it possible a national cricket player has been been consulted in such a way?

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Ganges Khan

May 05, 2019 07:29am

Sir its the cricketers fault,we are poor,uneducated and a failure of a country, we are not even able to provide clean water for our people,here people are more interested how to attain Heaven overnight.

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