Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja came up with a positive latest update on injured left-arm speedster Shaheen Afridi, whom he said is expecting readiness for Pakistan’s first Super 12 game at the forthcoming T20 World Cup against arch-rivals India at the MCG on October 23.
The former Pakistan skipper stated he has been in constant touch with the medical staff and physios overseeing Shaheen’s sustained rehab and there is a strong chance that the spearhead will be taking part in the warm-up games leading into the much-awaited India encounter.
Speculations had been rife on the player’s availability and its due date as the caravan for the T20 World Cup is about to take off. The pacer has been missing from the action since July, when he went down with a knee injury during a Test series against Sri Lanka.
In this period, he missed the ODI series in the Netherlands and also the Asia Cup 2022 in UAE, where his absence left Pakistan’s bowling short on quality and depth. Prior to the regional tournament in the Middle East, Shaheen had been sent to the UK for adequate treatment and specialist advisory on his knee injury. He relinked with the side in the UAE in time for the Asia Cup 2022, at the sidelines of which the team physios looked after him.
With Pakistan taking no risk on their premier speedster’s injury, the 22-year-old subsequently got ruled out of the T20I tri-series in New Zealand, also featuring Bangladesh, while he continued the final stages of his rehab. But with the T20 World Cup just over a week away, there were fears around Shaheen’s inclusion in the side.
Those, however, were dispelled by Ramiz in an interview with the Dawn News.
“I had spoken to Shaheen the day before. He said, ‘I haven’t felt this fit in a while’. So, the progress is very good. His doctor has sent me videos of him. He feels he will play against India and will be battle ready.”
Ramiz said Shaheen told him clearly that he will be ready to go come Pakistan’s two ICC-organised warm-up fixtures to gear up for the India clash at the MCG, whose tickets were sold months in advance, reinforcing the nature of the Indo-Pak rivalry.
“This is a very good news because these knee injuries are very technical and delicate. So our opinion on this was till he doesn’t get 110 percent fit, we won’t take a risk (of playing him). When I talked to him and he said, ‘I am a 110 percent (fit) now…so you don’t worry. I’ll play practice matches in Australia and I’m ready for the India match’.”
Ramiz also provided an update on left-hand batter Fakhar Zaman, who has been under rehabilitation from a knee injury since the end of the Asia Cup in UAE. The player was ruled out of the main squad picked for the T20 World Cup but kept in reserves, as PCB appointed his like-for-like replacement in Shan Masood ahead of the England home series.
The PCB chief said he is pleased with the way Fakhar is progressing during the whole rehab process and doesn’t see why the attacking batter can’t be reincluded in the side if he attains 100% fitness.
“He is also in the process of rehab. I think if he does become fit, he has a lot of value, there’s no doubt to do. The call will be taken by the team, how they are looking at their combination.”
Pakistan will play England and Afghanistan in Brisbane on October 17 and 19 in their two warm-up fixtures before the India game. Babar Azam & company will move to Australia on October 15 after the completion of the New Zealand tri-series on October 14.
