Sussex hope for Rana recovery

Rana Naved suffered a stomach injury back in May but this one appears to be more serious

Rana Naved’s Sussex team-mates are all hoping his serious shoulder injury is not career-threatening.

The Pakistani pace bowler suffered a bad dislocation at the top of his bowling arm - after a fall in the outfield which left him in such pain that Sussex’s LV County Championship match against Durham was held up for 50 minutes at the Riverside on Wednesday.

The champions later fought back to claim six Durham wickets for 50 runs before struggling themselves to 85 for four - and a lead of only 60 - at stumps, by which time Rana had been released from hospital and was able to rejoin the team, and Sussex coach Mark Robinson was anxious not to pre-judge the severity of Rana’s injury.

“You have to wait for the medical opinions before we speculate too much about this,” he said.

“Your first concern after something like that is that Rana has a family to support - he has people to look after.”

At the age of 29, Rana - who has taken 50 championship wickets for Sussex this summer - is unlikely to be playing for them again next season.

Mushtaq Ahmed comforted his team-mate © Getty Images

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His compatriot Mushtaq Ahmed has signed a new two-year contract - and with only one overseas player allowed in the team from next spring, Rana would be well advised to look elsewhere.

Robinson, himself a former pace bowler, spoke not just of his own sympathy for any player in Rana’s situation but of the depth of feeling among his team-mates.

“With sportsmen, you are always one injury away from your dreams and all you have ever wanted to do coming to an end,” said the former Yorkshire, Northamptonshire and Sussex seamer.

“There are always those risks. Players know that, and that is why it is upsetting to see one of your own in trouble.”

Reflecting on the moment Rana suffered his injury, diving to save a four in front of the pavilion at cover, Robinson stressed it was the action of a determined professional doing his best for his team.

Rana was accompanied by his compatriots in the Sussex team, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq, while he was given oxygen and painkillers on the outfield.