Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi looks set to recover from his knee injury in time to take part in the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The knee injury that cut Afridi’s stint with the Big Bash League (BBL) short is much less severe than the previous ones that kept Afridi out of the team.
Shaheen Afridi Starts Rehabilitation Under PCB Guidance
After injuring his right knee while playing for the Brisbane Heat, Shaheen Afridi was called back to Australia at the beginning of the year. With the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not delay in treating the injury of their key player. He is doing fine in his rehabilitation process.
Afridi has also confirmed that his recovery process is being closely monitored, and he is set to return to his bowling soon. Currently, he is focusing on gym training and batting practices.
Shaheen Afridi Confident of Bowling Next Week
Speaking at the talent hunt event of Lahore Qalandars, Shaheen Afridi was confident about his fitness. “MRI scan shows only minor swelling, nothing serious in the structural way. That might be a very good indication that he might come back sooner than initially expected. Importantly, Afridi also assured that this injury was a fraction of the knee problems he had faced in the past.
Past Knee Injuries Still Fresh for Shaheen Afridi
The question over Shaheen Afridi’s fitness is because he has had problems with knee injuries in the past. In 2022, he suffered from a PCL injury to the same knee during a Test match in Sri Lanka. That injury kept him out for several months, which affected his preparation for the T20 World Cup that year.
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Although he did return later in the tournament, Afridi was unable to bowl at the death in the final against England – a moment that had much to do with denting Pakistan’s title hopes.
Mixed BBL Outing for Shaheen Afridi
In his brief spell in the BBL, Shaheen Afridi played four matches for Brisbane Heat, taking only two wickets with an economy of 11.19. He also faced disciplinary action in his first game when he was pulled out of the attack due to dangerous bowling.
Regardless, Afridi’s international form has not suffered. He ended last year as Pakistan’s third-highest wicket-taker in T20Is, behind the spinners Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed.
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Shaheen Afridi on Learning from Overseas Leagues
While reminiscing about the experience of Pakistani players within the BBL, the significance of growth and development over achieving numbers was emphasized by Shaheen Afridi. It was stated that playing international leagues leads players to discover flaws in their game that help the national team.
Shift in Focus towards T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka
Pakistan’s team is already in Sri Lanka for a series of white-ball matches, which serves as important prep work for the team for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The entire tournament for Pakistan would be played in Sri Lanka.
Shaheen Afridi, who was named the ODI captain of Pakistan last year, is also optimistic about his team’s performances and is of the opinion that the pre-tournament exposure will help his team reach peak form at the right time.
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