Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali gave fans and his teammates a scare after suffering a head injury during the opening day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet on Saturday morning.
The injury occurred during the eighth over, on the fifth ball of the match, when Ali dropped a catch off Tanzid Hasan Tamim, inadvertently striking himself on the head in the process. Looking visibly dazed upon getting to his feet, the pacer was subsequently stretchered off the field.
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However, on the 15th over, he returned to the field, easing concerns over the severity of the injury. He resumed bowling too in the 19th over.
How severe is a head injury on the field
Sustaining an injury while playing sports can range from a mild physical trauma, such as a scalp contusion or laceration, to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) with concurrent bleeding. Though TBIs in sports are serious, they are manageable when recognised early.
A head injury can be mild, moderate or severe. A mild head injury may result in a small lump or bruise. A moderate head injury or concussion can temporarily affect how your brain works, causing headaches or nausea. While a severe head injury may lead to swelling or bleeding in your brain, which can cause seizures and other serious complications.
What are the red flags of a head injury?
On-field head injuries require immediate intervention. Red flags that demand emergency medical evaluation include loss of consciousness, seizures, slurred speech, repeated vomiting, worsening confusion, and severe limb weakness.
Even if it is brief, if the player loses consciousness, emergency transport is required.
According to experts, the player should not return to play on the same day after sustaining a head injury. A step-by-step approach is required to assess the situation and recovery. If the injury leads to a concussion, then mostly it would take 10-14 days to resolve.
Each stage of recovery requires a minimum of 24 hours.
