Shaheen Afridi’s exclusion from the next Asia Cup, for which the medical staff had suggested a recovery period of 4-6 weeks due to a right knee ligament injury, dealt a severe blow to Pakistan.
Afridi will miss the Asia Cup as well as the home series against England but is expected to return before the New Zealand T20I tri-series and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
While playing in the first Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle last month, he suffered a right knee ligament damage while fielding.
Everything picks up the tempo: India-Pakistan rivalry: ponting | “ICC Review”
Advertisement
Following the most recent scans, the PCB Medical Advisory Committee and independent doctors suggested rest for 4-6 weeks, effectively excluding Shaheen from the two major series.
Advertisement
Shaheen is obviously disappointed by the news, but he is a brave young man who has pledged to return with a strong resolve to serve his nation and team, according to PCB Chief Medical Officer Dr. Najeebullah Soomro.
It is now obvious that he will need more time and is likely to return to competitive cricket in October, despite the fact that he has made progress during his recovery in Rotterdam.
The player will be extensively monitored by PCB’s Sports & Exercise Medicine Department in the following weeks to ensure his safe return to competitive cricket. Shaheen will continue to play for Pakistan until his recovery is complete. Soon, PCB will reveal Shaheen’s successor for the Asia Cup.
Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shahnawaz Dahani, Naseem Shah, Usman Qadir.
Advertisement