Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi was ruled out of the recently concluded Asia Cup 2022 due to an injury. While he was present at the stadium to cheer for his team members, he did not get to play after being advised a 4-6 weeks rest by the medical team following an injury to the right knee ligament.
While Pakistan team desperately needs Afridi to be fit for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup to be held in Australia, former speedster Aaquib Javed has given a weird advice to the speed merchant, asking him not to feature in the showpiece event.
“Fast bowlers like Shaheen Afridi are not born every day. My advice to Shaheen Afridi is not to play the upcoming T20 World Cup because Shaheen is more important than this World Cup,” Aaqib was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Currently in London for his rehabilitation, the 22-year-old missed the ODI series against Netherlands and Asia Cup and will also miss the home T20I series against England and the New Zealand tri-series.
“Shaheen Shah Afridi requires uninterrupted, dedicated knee specialist care and London offers some of the best sports medical and rehabilitation facilities in the world. In the best interest of the player, we have decided to send him there,” PCB Chief Medical Officer, Dr Najeebullah Soomro earlier said in a statement released by ICC.
The release further stated: Whilst in London, Shaheen will remain under the supervision of the PCB Medical Advisory Panel, which also comprises London-based Dr Imtiaz Ahmad and Dr Zafar Iqbal. Since 2016, Dr Imtiaz has been the Head of Medical Services at the Queens Park Rangers Football Club, while Dr Zafar is Head of Sports Medicine at the Crystal Palace Football Club since 2015 (having worked previously with Tottenham Hotspur FC, Liverpool FC and Kent County Cricket Club).
Earlier, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi claimed that Shaheen was bearing the expenses of his treatment from his own pocket.
In its response, in a statement to update on Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman and Afridi’s rehabilitation, PCB said,
“It goes without saying that the PCB has always been and will continue to be responsible for arranging medical care and rehabilitation of all its players requiring any treatment.”
