Pakistan on Sunday suffered a big blow ahead of their most awaited match with India in their Asia Cup 2022 opener in Dubai as star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been ruled out of the whole tournament with a knee injury. Afridi has been advised 4-6 weeks of rest implying that he is probably going to miss the T20I series vs England too.
Afridi had incurred a right knee ligament injury while fielding during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. PCB Medical Advisory Committee and independent specialists have now advised him to take a rest for essentially a month which means that the youngster will miss two major series for Pakistan, but is expected to be back in front of Pakistan’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign in Australia.
PCB Chief Medical Officer, Dr Najeebullah Soomro: “I have spoken with Shaheen and he is understandably upset with the news, but he is brave young man who has vowed to come back strongly to serve his country and team. Although he has made progress during his rehabilitation in Rotterdam, it is now clear he will require more time and is likely to return to competitive cricket in October.
“PCB’s Sports & Exercise Medicine Department will be working closely with the player over the coming weeks to ensure his safe return to competitive cricket.”
Afridi will in the mean time stay with the Pakistan squad as he completes his recovery. PCB will later name a substitution player for Afridi for the Asia Cup tournament.
