Concerns about Shaheen Afridi’s fitness were raised after he lost his only wicket to India and gave up 34 runs. Wasim Akram, Misbah-ul-Haq, and former captain Waqar Younis were concerned about his health going into the T20 world cup’s remaining games.
“We are aware of Shaheen Afridi’s abilities, but he wasn’t present. You are taking him to the world cup, so why isn’t he here? I also spoke to the medical panel while I was in New Zealand [Pakistan played a series in New Zealand immediately before the world cup]. In New Zealand, he ought to have competed, Waqar stated on A Sports. “He merely completed six overs during warm-ups for the game. Before that, he had never played. You can fit in the nets, but you need match practice for a tight game. He appeared to not be there yet.
Shoaib Malik, another panelist, discussed the severity of Shaheen’s knee injury and how it affected her pace.
“He bowls at 145 kmph when he’s in shape. For the batsmen, a 145 kph inswinger is challenging. But the average speed today was 133 or 134 kph. Shoaib Malik stated, “It’s either, as Wasim Akram stated, owing to lack of match practice, or he isn’t entirely fit. He wasn’t moving as quickly as he had before the injury. A minor limp was present. If the ball wasn’t landing where he desired, it may be linked to a lack of match practice; however, if the speed dropped, I believe a fitness issue was at play. So you’re a little bit holding back. Obviously, a knee injury is a serious injury.
Misbah-ul-Haq advanced the conversation by describing how a bowler who has a knee issue is impacted during game time. “I have guided bowlers like Sohail Tanvir and Umar Gul who had recovered from knee injuries. The second spell always causes issues. After casting a spell, you stand in the outfield. You are more rested and ready to bowl when you take the first spell after warming up. But throughout the second spell, you’re still thinking about it. Avoid pushing yourself too hard to avoid becoming stiff. His pace slowed down in the third and fourth over. Even at the end, Shaheen typically bowls between 143 and 145 kph. Shaheen is a benefit to us, but the knee injury is a major concern.
