Pakistan suffered a major blow ahead of next week’s Twenty20 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates when fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi was ruled out on Saturday because of a knee injury.
The 22-year-old Afridi hurt his right knee while fielding during the first test against Sri Lanka in Galle last month and the Pakistan Cricket Board says its medical advisory committee has advised him to rest for four to six weeks.
Afridi will not only miss the Asia Cup, where Pakistan is due to take on arch-rival India, but will also be sidelined for the seven-match T20 home series against England.
He is expected to return for the triangular T20 series in New Zealand which will be followed by the T20 World Cup in Australia.
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“PCB’s department of sports and exercise medicine will be working closely with the player over the coming weeks to ensure his safe return to competitive cricket,” the board said.
The PCB also said Afridi’s replacement for the Asia Cup would be announced in due course. Pakistan is due to arrive in Dubai on Monday after playing the last match of its ODI series against the Netherlands in Rotterdam on Sunday.
Pakistan leads the series 2-0.