PAK vs NED: May God Never Put Anyone Through This Injury; I Am Trying To Get Back To Full Fitness – Shaheen Shah Afridi

The 22-year-old Pakistan National Cricket Team star left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi has said that coming back from an injury is never easy for fast bowlers. He added that he is still “trying to get back to full fitness”.

Premier Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi had sustained a right knee ligament injury during a Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle, which had kept him out of action for a very long time.

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Afridi, after missing the marquee Asia Cup 2022 tournament, made a comeback in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, but he is still not playing at full-match fitness.

Speaking after Pakistan’s first victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 against the Netherlands, Shaheen Shah Afridi said that he is trying to give his 100% in the ongoing multi-nation tournament.

“It is not easy to come back from such an injury after three months,” Afridi said after Pakistan’s first win in the tournament, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“May god never put anyone through this injury but those who pick up this injury obviously know how difficult it is. I am trying to give my 100%. I think my pace was similar earlier too.

“The average pace was around 135-140 kph; I am trying to get back to full fitness. Match fitness is different. When you come back after three months, it is difficult to put in full effort [immediately].”

I struggled for two-three months – Shaheen Shah Afridi

Shaheen Shah Afridi further said that he struggled for two-three months during his rehab in England.

He elaborated: “I was alone [in England where he did the rehab], I struggled for two-three months. I have never had such a long injury layoff. Of course your friends and team-mates back you and appreciate you. My target was to play the World Cup, and thanks to god I could.

“For the first two months I didn’t even walk properly because the swelling would increase. I just went to the gym then. In the last two weeks I bowled in the indoors so that I am somewhat prepared to run on these surfaces. The summer was over so there were no outdoor pitches available so I could only bowl indoors.”

Shaheen Shah Afridi was asked how difficult it was going to be to earn a victory against South Africa. He responded by saying that all the teams taking part in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 are pretty strong and winning against anyone is not easy. He said:

“No team is easy in this World Cup. It’s good we are on board. We played the last two games well too but the result is not in your hands. We will try to give our best in the remaining matches.”

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