"Painkillers Should Be Taken In A Disciplined Manner, After The Match Day, It Tends To Pain Even More" - Shahid Afridi Lashes Out At Shoaib Akhtar's Comments

Pakistan’s World Cup campaign came to an end on Sunday after England beat them in the final to win the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar lamented Afridi’s injury but believed the youngster should have played on since it was the World Cup final.

Despite setting a below-par target, Pakistan remained in the game until the 16th over of England’s run chase. However, Shaheen Afridi injured his knee while completing a catch, forcing him to miss his final two overs. Captain Babar Azam brought in Iftikhar Ahmed to bowl Shaheen’s incomplete third over, and England took advantage of it to race away with the championship.

Whatever Happens, Just Keep Running – Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar was upset that Shaheen missed those two crucial overs and made a controversial remark, saying that Afridi could have pushed himself even after the knee injury since it was the final. Akhtar further added that Shaheen could have taken painkillers instead.

“When your main bowler becomes unfit, then it creates problem for you. Shaheen (Afridi) was never fully fit, but we cannot put the entire blame on him as he bowled well in the past 2-3 matches. But this is World Cup final. Even if the leg breaks. Whatever happens, happens. Just keep running and do something. But this was not in our fortune,” Shoaib Akhtar told Zee News.

“When you numb your feet, the pain is not felt. Yes, you are risking the career of the young man. It is a World Cup final, whether you can risk or not that you have to think as a captain. It is a tough decision,” he added.

When former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was asked the same question in an interview with Sama TV, he said that painkillers have many side effects on the body and should be used only in moderation.

“Nehin, nehin, nehin…main nehin samajhta ki yeh jayas baat hai. Painkillers sirf akhti taur pe hota hai. Humne bhi bohot dafa kiya hai. But uske bhi side effects bohot saare hote hai. Kyunki uss time toh sunn ho jati hai and pain khatam ho jati hai, but pain aur zyada bar jaati hai next day (No, no…not at all, it’s wrong. Painkillers should be taken in a disciplined manner. I too used to take it. But it has a lot of side effects. It does numb the pain for a while, but after the match day, it tends to pain even more),” said Shahid Afidi.

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