ENG vs PAK: "Shaheen Afridi Will Be Out For 6-7 Months If The PCB's Medical Board Decides To Treat It Surgically": Former PCB Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sohail Saleem

Shaheen Afridi’s return from injury, in the opinion of former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sohail Saleem, was prematurely handled by the team administration.

The left-arm pacer, who played against England on November 13 in the T20 World Cup 2022 championship match, aggravated a knee ailment that will keep him out of action for an extended period of time.

During Pakistan’s July 2022 visit to Sri Lanka, the young man suffered a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury. Shaheen Afridi was disqualified from the 2022 Asia Cup and was scheduled to play in the Australia T20 World Cup.

The pacer joined the team in Australia for the major competition after finishing his recovery in London. He did not, however, appear at his best throughout the first several games in the Super 12 stage.

While his rhythm gradually returned as the competition went on, he was still unable to touch top gear, often starting slowly and reaching speeds of up to mid-130 kph.

“It would take Shaheen Afridi three to four months to recover”: Dr. Sohail Saleem

Dr. Sohail informed The Dawn after the T20 World Cup 2022 final that an inquiry should be established to evaluate the PCB medical team’s handling of Afridi’s injury:

“If the injury doesn’t result in more injuries, it would take Shaheen Afridi three to four months to recover. If the PCB’s medical board chooses to treat it through surgery, Shaheen Afridi will be out for six, or seven months. An inquiry should be held to determine if the PCB medical panel went wrong in their approach to treat Shaheen’s injury.”

While claiming a catch to eliminate Harry Brook in the T20 World Cup 2022 championship match, Afridi’s knee gave way from his own weight. Prior to coming back to bowl his second spell, he left the field for a bit. After bowling his first delivery, he appeared uneasy, and as a result, he was forced to leave the field.

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