Tim Paine's Participation In Ashes Uncertain After A Neck Injury

The Australian captain Tim Paine’s participation in the upcoming Ashes 2021-22 is still doubtful which is scheduled to begin from December 8 at the Gabba.

Notably, the Australian skipper Tim Paine is all set to undergo surgery on a persistent neck injury. Notably, this surgery makes his participation in the marquee Ashes series skeptical. The 36-year-old has been out of the field for the last six weeks and he hasn’t trained during that period. Previously it was believed that with a normal treatment things will be fine and it will result in complete recovery but this hasn’t been the case.

Notably, the decision of Paine to undergo surgery was taken last week. The doctors believe that Paine could start training from one month after the date of surgery, and Paine feels this is the best opportunity to recover as he will get at least a month to prepare himself for the Ashes 2022-22.

After the home series loss against India Tim Paine received massive criticism for his performance. He will be looking forward to changing things and bounce back strong in the upcoming Ashes.

“How a team like that can be allowed to play in an ICC-sanctioned event’: Tim Paine on Afghanistan

Speaking to the SEN radio show, Tim Paine gave his views on the participation of team Afghanistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021 which is scheduled to begin on 17 October. He stated:

“I don’t think we want to be associated with countries that are taking opportunities or things off literally half their population.”

“We’ve heard nothing from the ICC, which is fascinating given there is a T20 World Cup in just over a month. I’d imagine it’s impossible [for Afghanistan to take part] if teams are pulling out of playing against them and governments are not letting them travel to our shores. How a team like that can be allowed to play in an ICC-sanctioned event is going to be very, very hard to see,” he added.

However former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan didn’t take the statement by Paine lightly and has hit back on him with an open letter. Afghan wrote:

“It requires too much hard work and dedication to reach this level of cricket. For a less privileged cricketing nation as Afghanistan with zero infrastructure and support, reaching where we are right now and playing shoulder to shoulder with top 10 countries requires sheer determination, passion, and talent,” Aghan said in the letter.

“Therefore, you should refrain from delivering aggressive statements which would result in isolating the Afghan cricket,” he added.

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