New Delhi: Worrying news has emerged for the Pakistan cricket team. Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, playing for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League (BBL) , has not performed up to expectations so far.
Adding to the concern, with only six weeks left until the T20 World Cup, Afridi suffered an injury and left the field, further increasing tension in the Pakistani camp.
Shaheen Proves Expensive in Brisbane
In the match against Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba in Brisbane, Shaheen Afridi conceded a lot of runs. He gave away 19 runs in one over, where Australian-born Italian batsman Harry Manenti adopted an aggressive approach against him. This over proved quite costly for Brisbane Heat.
Knee Injury During Fielding
The incident occurred in the 14th over of the Strikers’ innings. Jamie Overton hit Xavier Bartlett’s delivery straight down the ground. Shaheen, fielding at mid-on, ran quickly to catch the ball but injured his knee in the process. He looked uncomfortable and limped off the field. Due to the injury, he couldn’t complete his full quota of overs.
Disappointing BBL Debut
Shaheen’s BBL debut against Melbourne Renegades on December 15 was also a forgettable one. In the match played at Simonds Stadium, he bowled two full tosses above waist height-one to Tim Seifert and the other to Ollie Peake. The umpires deemed these deliveries dangerous, and he was removed from the bowling attack.
Statistics and the Pressure of Expectations
Shaheen’s debut spell ended after just 2.4 overs, conceding 43 runs, including three no-balls and two wides. A total of 15 runs were scored in that over. Shaheen, along with Mohammad Rizwan, who is also making his BBL debut, arrived in the tournament with high expectations, and Pakistani fans are closely watching their performances.
Story Highlights
- Shaheen Afridi’s performance in the Big Bash League has been disappointing.
- He conceded 19 runs in one over, with Harry Manenti playing aggressively.
- He suffered a knee injury while fielding and limped off the field.
- This raises concerns for Pakistan just six weeks before the T20 World Cup.