Shaheen Shah Afridi, the star fast bowler and captain of Lahore Qalandars, is eager to step onto the field once again for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) after being sidelined with a knee injury. The injury occurred during the T20 World Cup final against England on November 13, 2022, and forced Shaheen to miss all 15 games of Pakistan’s home series against England and New Zealand.
The rehabilitation process was a challenging one for Shaheen. He recalls there were moments when he felt like giving up, as he was only working on one muscle that seemed to not be improving. Despite these difficulties, Shaheen found motivation by watching old footage of himself on YouTube, which reminded him of how well he had performed in the past. He admits that it is frustrating for a fast bowler to miss cricket due to injury, but he is grateful for the opportunity to make a comeback.
Shaheen’s injury came at a particularly tough time, as he missed not only Pakistan’s T20I series against England, but also their historic home Test series. As a bowler who takes pride in his performance in Test cricket, Shaheen was especially disappointed to miss this opportunity. He states that it is tough to miss home games due to injury, but he remains grateful for the chance to play in the PSL.
Despite the setback, Shaheen’s track record in the PSL speaks for itself. He holds the record for the most wickets among players who made their PSL debut in 2018, and is ranked third on the all-time wickets list in the tournament’s history. The PSL is widely recognized as one of the best T20 leagues in the world, and Shaheen is excited to once again test himself as a bowler.
Lahore Qalandars will begin their title defense on February 13, when they take on Multan Sultans in the tournament opener in Multan. Shaheen is confident in both his fitness and his bowling, and is eager to face the challenges that the tournament will present. He is grateful for the support he has received and is ready to step onto the field once again, representing Lahore Qalandars and his country.
Also, see:
Whom to credit for PSL 8 exhibition match? Tells Afridi
