Pakistan’s premier fast bowler, Shaheen Afridi has been ruled out of the Asia Cup 2022 and the home series against England due to fitness concerns, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement on Saturday. The statement said that he has been advised to take 4-6 weeks’ rest by the PCB Medical Advisory Committee and independent specialists following the latest scans and reports. According to the reports of Cricket Pakistan, Hasan Ali will be replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi in Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2022 squad.
Shaheen Afridi will be expected to make comeback to competitive cricket in October with the New Zealand T20I tri-series, which will be followed by the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Shaheen had suffered a right knee ligament injury while fielding during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
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PCB Chief Medical Officer, Dr Najeebullah Soomro said: “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.”
Although, Soomro added, that Shaheen has made progress during his rehabilitation in Rotterdam, it is yet to be clarified whether 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,” he added.
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Shaheen Aridi will stay with the squad to complete his rehabilitation. His replacement for the ACC T20 Asia Cup will be announced shortly. The Pakistan side will arrive in Dubai from Rotterdam on Monday.
Pakistan Asia Cup squad: Babar Azam (c), 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, Hasan Ali
