In the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023, Shaheen Shah Afridi is leading the Lahore Qalandars side in the 8th edition of PSL. The defending champions are currently in the second position in the points table of PSL 2023.
Shoaib Akhtar in his recent comment has criticised the Left arm pacer for not bowling his full quota of overs in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup, Shaheen got injured after bowling 2.1 overs against England in the finals.
Akhtar said that he would bowl with injection on if he was in Shaheen’s place-
“Agar main uski jagah hota, wo 12 balls, se main Pakistan ka sabse bada celebrity ban jaata, natonal hero ban jaata. Main ball karta, girta, ghutna tootta, muh se khoon aa raha hota, main khada hota, main injection leta, main sunn karta knee ko, fir aata, fir bowing karta,
(If I was in his place, I would’ve bowled those 12 deliveries and become Pakistan’s biggest celebrity; a national hero. I would come to bowl, I would fall, break my knee, blood would be streaming from my face, but I would’ve got up again, had an injection, and return to bowl),” said former Pakistani pacer.
“Log kehte ghhutna toot jaayega, mar jaoge. main kehta mar jaana better hai, world cup haath se naa jaaye ( People would’ve said, ‘you would break your knee. You will die!’ And I would’ve said, ‘it’s better to die right now. World Cup is more important)“, he further added.
Shaheen Shah Afridi at his devastating best ? #PSL2023pic.twitter.com/LTrKU5f7YJ
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 21, 2023
In his 13-ball stint in the T20 WC finals, he bagged the wicket of English opener Jason Roy and conceded 13 runs. Pacer Shaheen got injured while taking a catch of England’s batter Harry Brook in the outfield in the 13th over. The tall fast bowler was making a return to the Pakistan team in the 2022 T20 World Cup after missing the Asia Cup due to a knee injury.
Brook’s dismissal came at a cost as Shaheen ended up injuring himself. Though the 22-year-old was reintroduced into the attack after receiving treatment the Pakistani pacer failed to complete his quota of overs. Then top-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed completed his over and ended up leaking 13 runs.
Afridi is currently playing in PSL after injuring his knee in the T20 World Cup 2022 final against England. In the last match against Quetta Gladiators, Pakistan’s speedster was the player of the match for his three wickets by giving 22 runs for Qalandars. The Lahore-based club will play their next match against Peshawar Zalmi on 26th February in PSL 8.