Asia Cup 2022: Shaheen Afridi travels with Pakistan squad despite being injured

Pakistan’s first game of the Asia Cup is scheduled against India on Sunday, August 28.

Pakistan suffered a major blow when their finest pacer Shaheen Afridi was ruled out of the upcoming Asia Cup 2022. The team will enter the tournament without the services of their deadly pacer, but the youngster has nevertheless traveled with the squad to the UAE, where the event is scheduled to begin on August 27.

The 22-year-old suffered a knee injury and as a result, was ruled out. But even then, he was seen with the squad not just in the UAE for the forthcoming Asia Cup, but he also accompanied the team in their recently concluded series against the Netherlands. It is being said that skipper Babar Azam made the call and wanted Afridi to stay with the squad.

“Babar wanted him to stay with the team. Management wants to closely monitor his injury rehab. He will be staying in Dubai itself with the team,” a PCB spokesperson confirmed to the local media in Pakistan.

Shaheen Afridi is expected to be back in action for the tri-series in October

Afridi was receiving treatment when physicians urged him to take four to six weeks of break from playing, effectively excluding him from the Asia Cup T20Is.  Afridi was the driving force behind Pakistan’s stunning victory over India in the Twenty20 World Cup 2021, which was also contested in the UAE. Before going into the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, he’s scheduled to play again in the T20I tri-series in New Zealand in October.

“I have spoken with Shaheen and he is understandably upset with the news, but he is a brave young man who has vowed to come back strongly to serve his country and team,” Dr. Najeebullah Soomro was quoted as saying in the PCB release.

Pakistan’s first game will be against arch-rivals India as the two teams lock horns on Sunday, August 28. India would look to recover from the heartbreaking defeat from last year, whereas Pakistan would look to put up a similar, dominating performance. While it was Afridi’s injury for the Men in Green, India also faced a setback when senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah suffered an injury and was eventually ruled out.