Shaheen Afridi undergoes rehab at NCA after BBL knee injury
LAHORE: Pakistan’s ace fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has returned to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for rehabilitation.
The 25-year-old sustained a knee injury during the Big Bash League (BBL), forcing him to withdraw from the tournament. According to media reports, Afridi’s rehabilitation programme at the NCA will also include regular assessments to monitor his recovery and ensure he regains full fitness for upcoming international fixtures.
Shaheen, who was ruled out of the ongoing 15th edition of the BBL following the injury sustained in Heat’s match against the Adelaide Strikers, took to ‘X’ to thank the franchise and fans for their support during his debut BBL season. “I’m massively thankful to the Brisbane Heat team and fans for showering me with immense love and support,” he wrote. The left-arm pacer featured in four matches this season, taking two wickets at an economy rate of 11.19.
Shaheen is also not part of Pakistan’s T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Both he and former captain Babar Azam were excluded from the refreshed squad due to their BBL commitments.
Pakistan is scheduled to play three T20Is against Sri Lanka, followed by a home series against Australia at the end of January, as part of preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2025, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The severity of Shaheen’s knee injury also raises concerns over his availability for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, set to begin on 7 February in India and Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the Brisbane Heat have signed Pakistan fast bowler Zaman Khan as an international replacement for the injured Afridi for the remainder of BBL 15. The right-arm pacer will be available for the Heat’s clash against his former side, Sydney Thunder, at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon, after receiving clearance from the BBL Technical Committee. Zaman previously represented the Thunder in BBL 13, taking eight wickets in four matches at an impressive average of 16.38. Since then, he has featured in 10 T20 Internationals and one One-Day International for Pakistan. Monitoring Desk
