Will Shaheen Shah Afridi Be Fit for the T20 World Cup? Injury Concerns Loom

Shaheen Shah Afridi's Injury Update

Karachi: Veteran left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi is set to return to Pakistan from Australia later today, raising concerns about his participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup scheduled in India and Sri Lanka next year.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has summoned Shaheen for treatment and rehabilitation at the High Performance Centre in Lahore following a knee injury he sustained while playing for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League (BBL).

Shaheen's performance in the BBL has been challenging, and he had previously faced a lengthy absence from cricket due to knee surgery after an injury sustained during a Test match in Sri Lanka in 2021-22.

According to a PCB official, the decision to recall Shaheen was made after consultations with Cricket Australia (CA), as initial assessments indicated that he would need complete rest to recover from his injury.

The official noted that the severity of the injury and the expected recovery timeline will be evaluated after Shaheen meets with the board's medical team.

Expressing his disappointment on social media about leaving the tournament early, Shaheen stated, "I have enjoyed my time playing for Brisbane and I am saddened that I cannot finish the season with the team."

He added, "Hopefully, I will be back on the field soon."

During his stint with Brisbane Heat, Shaheen participated in four matches, taking two wickets with an average of 76.50. In his debut match, he was removed from the bowling attack after delivering two full tosses.

Prior to his injury, Shaheen was already excluded from the Pakistan squad for a three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka scheduled for January 7-11.