ICC T20 World Cup 2022: "World Cups Will Come And Go, Preserve Shaheen Afridi" - Salman Butt

Pacer Shaheen Afridi’s fitness ahead of the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup has been a major concern for Pakistan. Speaking on the matter, former captain Salman Butt opined Afridi should not play in the upcoming World Cup if he is not 100 per cent fit to take part in the mega event in Australia.

Shaheen Afridi did his rehabilitation in London, but it is still not known whether Shaheen will take part in the showpiece event in Australia. However, Butt suggested that the World Cups will come and go, but it’s important to preserve Shaheen, in order to prolong his career.

Shaheen Afridi is meant to play more World Cups in the future; highlights Salman Butt

Shaheen is expected to reach Australia on October 15, ahead of Pakistan’s opening match of the tournament against arch-rivals India on October 23.

Speaking to Paktv.tv, Salman Butt was quoted as saying, “Shaheen is not a one World Cup player. He can play the next five, if he stays fit. World Cups will come and go. If he is rushed, this injury could be career-threatening. The ODI World Cup next year, and in the next 10 years, there will be two more. So, in order to prolong his career, you need to preserve him. If he didn’t get injured, he would’ve played every game, and Naseem might’ve not made his debut.”

Salman Butt backs ex-Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed on Shaheen Afridi’s fitness concerns

Butt’s comments came after former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed had also advised Shaheen not to participate in the upcoming event because it would only aggravate the injury

“Fast bowlers like Shaheen Afridi are not born every day. My advice to Shaheen Afridi is not to play the upcoming T20 World Cup because Shaheen is more important than this World Cup,” Javed was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

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