The return of Shaheen Shah Afridi is impressive. The talented Pakistani fast bowler, who was forced to withdraw from the Asia Cup 2022 due to a knee injury last month, seems fully well and prepared for the ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
By bowling against Afghanistan in their second pregame match at the Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday, Afridi forewarned Team India ahead of Pakistan’s opening encounter at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday (October 23). (October 19).
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the opener for Afghanistan, was caught by a lethal inswinging yorker from Afridi in his very first over, just in front of the wicket. Gurbaz was removed for a first-ball duck, evoking Rohit Sharma’s dismissal during India and Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2021 match last year in Dubai. Gurbaz was seriously hurt and had to be helped off the field on his teammate’s shoulder before being taken to the hospital for follow-up scans on his wounded foot.
A second wicket was taken by Afridi in the second over of his session, indicating that he wasn’t done yet. Hazratullah Zazai, Afghanistan’s opener, left Afridi some opportunity to be hit, but another quick yorker hit the base of his leg-stump. Babar Azam, the captain, gave the left-arm pacer a reprieve after a few overs with his numbers of 2/4.
In the first warm-up game against England, Shaheen Shah Afridi only bowled a few overs but failed to claim a wicket. Pakistan was defeated by England by six wickets in the first exhibition game.
With Jasprit Bumrah out of the T20 World Cup 2022 due to injury, Rohit Sharma and Team India will be without him, while Pakistan is back to full strength with Shaheen Shah Afridi operating at peak efficiency.
