ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi has been ruled out of the upcoming Asia Cup and England home series, Pakistan Cricket Board said on Saturday, citing the ace bowler’s injury.
Afridi, who spearheads Pakistan’s pace attack, has been instrumental in Pakistan’s revival in all formats of the game in recent months. Last year, he was presented with the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year 2021 award for taking an impressive 78 wickets from 36 international matches at an average of 22.20.
Afridi had suffered a right knee ligament injury while fielding during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle last month.
“Shaheen Shah Afridi has been advised 4-6 weeks rest by the PCB Medical Advisory Committee and independent specialists following latest scans and reports,” PCB said in a statement. “This means Shaheen has been ruled out of the ACC T20 Asia Cup and home series against England.”
The Asia Cup was scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka, but the Asian Cricket Council last month decided to shift the venue to the UAE as the island nation sinks deeper into its worst economic crisis since independence.
Pakistan will begin their Asia Cup campaign on Aug. 28 with a high-profile match against arch-rivals India, whom they beat comprehensively in last year’s T20 World Cup. Afridi had bowled phenomenally in the match, taking the prized wickets of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli.
The PCB said Afridi will heal from his injury and be able to participate in the New Zealand T20I tri-series and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia, later this year.
“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,” PCB’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Najeebullah Soomro said.
Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup is now Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir.
