Shaheen Shah Afridi Returns Home Amid Injury Concerns for T20 World Cup
Shaheen Shah Afridi's Injury Update
Veteran left-arm pacer 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 for early next year in India and Sri Lanka.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has summoned Shaheen for treatment and rehabilitation at their High Performance Centre in Lahore, following a knee injury he sustained while playing for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League (BBL).
This season has been challenging for Shaheen, who has struggled during his debut in the BBL. He previously faced a lengthy absence from cricket due to knee surgery after an injury sustained while fielding in a Test match in Sri Lanka during the 2021-22 season.
A PCB representative mentioned that Shaheen's return was decided after consultations with Cricket Australia (CA), indicating that he needs complete rest to recover from his injury.
The severity of his injury and the expected recovery timeline will be assessed after he meets with the board's medical team.
Expressing his disappointment on social media, Shaheen shared his feelings about leaving the tournament early, stating, "I have enjoyed my time playing for Brisbane and I am sad that I will not be able to finish the season with the team."
He added, "Hopefully, I will be back on the field soon."
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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-toss balls.
Prior to his injury, Shaheen was already excluded from the Pakistan squad for a T20I series against Sri Lanka scheduled for January 7-11.