Brad Haddin Sheds Light on Liam Livingstone's Road To Recovery for PBKS
Liam Livingstone is recuperating from a knee injury (IPLT20.com)
In the latest development in the ongoing saga surrounding Liam Livingstone's potential involvement in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, Punjab Kings' (PBKS) assistant coach Brad Haddin has provided an update on the Englishman’s participation in the tournament.
According to the Australian stalwart, the PBKS think tank is adopting a cautious approach towards the explosive batter's playing time and are not hastening his involvement in the tournament, citing his recent recovery from a long-standing injury.
Following a recent imbroglio over the cricketer's availability and fitness status, Livingstone has finally integrated into the PBKS squad for IPL 2023. However, he did not feature in the match against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Thursday, which resulted in a six-wicket loss for Punjab.
The PBKS batting line-up, which has failed to fire on all cylinders in the recent past, was held to a modest total of 153/8 after being asked to bat first following a toss loss. In the aftermath of the defeat, questions were raised about Livingstone's availability for future games.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Haddin revealed that Livingstone had only just returned from a long hiatus due to a serious injury and, as such, the team was being cautious in monitoring his progress in the coming days. He further elucidated that the young batter’s health was of paramount importance, and the team would not rush him into playing prematurely.
“He’s just got off a flight. We are just monitoring him for the next couple of days just to see where he is at. He’s just come back from a long-term injury so we just had the opportunity to put some eyes on him over the last 24 hours. We’ll know a lot more coming into the next game,” said Haddin.
It is worth mentioning that the hard-hitting Englishman has not seen any competitive cricket action since his debut Test match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in December 2022, where he sustained a knee injury.
Livingstone's presence in the PBKS squad is sorely missed, particularly given his outstanding performances during IPL 2022. The swashbuckling batter had amassed an impressive tally of 437 runs in 14 matches at a blistering strike rate of 182.08.
However, it seems that PBKS's decision to prioritise Livingstone's long-term well-being could potentially yield dividends in the future, as he continues his recovery from injury.
 "Jatin")
