Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan. (Photo Source: Twitter)
On Wednesday, July 26, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Mohammad Rizwan has replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed as a concussion substitute in the ongoing second and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Singhalese Sports Club. Notably, Pakistan will use a concussion substitute for the first time in the longest format of the game.
Asitha Fernando hit Sarfaraz on the head while ducking a bouncer in the afternoon session on Day 3 of the second Test. Before getting injured and forced to retire, the 36-year-old had scored 14 off 22 deliveries. According to the board, he is still being monitored by the PCB’s medical panel.
Rizwan will be allowed to bat in the ongoing innings and will play the role of wicketkeeper-batter. Rizwan had been Pakistan’s first-choice wicketkeeper in red-ball cricket for several years. However, his lean patch in batting allowed Sarfaraz to return for the home series against New Zealand earlier in 2023, and he promptly established his spot with outstanding performances in both Test matches.
The PCB confirmed that match referee David Boon granted the Pakistan team’s request for a substitute in the ongoing match. The International Cricket Council (ICC) agreed to the use of concussion substitutes in all international cricket formats, and the substitute must be a “like-for-like replacement” and should be approved by the match referee.
A concussion replacement may be permitted when the head or neck injury has been sustained during play and within the playing area. If the foregoing conditions are met, the medical representative or team manager must submit a concussion replacement request to the ICC Match Referee. The intended Concussion Replacement should be a match-up for the concussed player. To be accepted, the Concussion Replacement Request must be submitted within 36 hours of the incident.
The first time Pakistan employed a concussion substitution was in the third ODI match against New Zealand in January 2023, when Kamran Ghulam replaced Haris Sohail. During the game, Lockie Ferguson bounced a ball toward Sohail at 150 kph, and the Pakistan batter was struck and promptly run out.