Shaheen Shah Afridi might be a bit rusty after a three-month injury layoff but Pakistan’s star fast bowler believes it hasn’t impacted his pace. The national team’s management ensured Shaheen’s availability for the ongoing T20 World Cup after he picked up a knee injury while playing a Test match against Sri Lanka in June, but the left-armer, otherwise a nightmare for batters, has been far from his best in the showpiece so far. His first and only wicket in the tournament came in Pakistan’s third match, against the Netherlands, after below-par performances in losing causes against India and Zimbabawe. “It is not easy to come back from such an injury after three months,” Shaheen told reporters after the Netherlands encounter on Sunday. “I am trying to give my 100 per cent.

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].” Shaheen admitted his time away from cricket in England where he underwent rehabilitation took a toll on him and that it was not easy for the 22-year-old to cope with a situation that was a first for him in his five-year-long international career. Shaheen, who was named the ICC Cricketer of The Year for 2021, said bowling in the indoor nets in England helped him prepare for the hard playing surfaces in Australia. “In the last two weeks I bowled in the indoors so that I am somewhat prepared to run on these surfaces,” he remarked.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP