Shaheen Afridi‘s return from an injury layoff has been a welcome boost for Pakistan right in time for the T20 World Cup Super 12s, but many have questioned if Pakistan’s premier quick is indeed back to full match fitness.
Shaheen started with the new ball against Zimbabwe in Pakistan’s second Super 12 match, but appeared to be still easing into things in his first over. The run-up appeared to be measured, the signature early movement of the ball was missing, and he was replaced by Mohammad Wasim after just one over. His second spell was quicker – going as far up as 88 mph – and he finished three out of his four overs inside the first ten.
While fielding too, Shaheen appeared to be holding back himself a bit, possibly wary of putting pressure on his knee. When Sean Williams smashed a boundary off Mohammad Wasim in the sixth over, Shaheen – stationed on the ropes – only gingerly ran towards the ball as it raced to the fence.
On commentary, Bazid Khan said: “It feels like he just needs a few more games to get back to that old Shaheen Afridi”.
The 22-year-old injured his right knee during the Test series against Sri Lanka in July, undergoing treatment for the injury in London. The rehabilitation kept him out of action until this month when he returned to feature in the T20 World Cup warm-up matches. A vicious yorker to dismiss Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the warm-ups suggested that he was back in his element, but the rustiness was evident when he took the field against India.
As pointed out by statistician Mazher Arshad, Shaheen is yet to hit his peak speeds in this tournament. His average speed, up until the third over in the Zimbabwe game, stood at 134 kph, while the same figure in the 2021 T20 World Cup had been 139.
Early days since his comeback but Shaheen Afridi's average speed in this T20 WC is 134. In last year's T20 WC, it was 139. He hasn't bowled any 145kmh (i.e 90 miles/h) delivery yet. In T20 World Cup 2021, he bowled 32 such deliveries. (Data from CricViz and @fwildecricket).
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) October 27, 2022
Against Zimbabwe, he finished with figures of 4-0-29-0, registering 4-0-34-0 in the previous game against India.
On Twitter, Shaheen’s fitness and form was widely discussed:
Shaheen paradox: if u play him, he clearly isn’t 100% – if u don’t play him, won’t get match practice to be ready for bigger games. Its a risk vs reward situation that doc/think-tank need to access. Hoping he gets a couple of wickets today to get his rhythm & confidence back
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) October 27, 2022
FLASH STAT: After today's four overs, Shaheen Shah Afridi has taken only two wickets from his last 22 overs in T20WC games
— 🏏Flashscore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) October 27, 2022
We're too ruthless! Shaheen Afridi has just recovered from injury. He was nowhere in professional cricket for more than two months but we still expect him to bowl every ball at 145kph+ and take five wickets right away. Pls have patience & give space to Shaheen Afridi #T20WorldCup
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) October 27, 2022
– Jittery run-up and not-so-sure length but this is how Shaheen probably would get into the groove.
— Asif Khan (@mak_asif) October 27, 2022
Shaheen is even fit to bowl?
— Notorious Omar (@omarbinasif) October 27, 2022
Shaheen Afridi has bowled a significantly better second over, he needs a wicket or two and he'll have his confidence back. The more he bowls, the better he'll get. Have patience! #T20WorldCup
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) October 27, 2022
14 by Zimbabwe today are the most runs conceded by Shaheen Shah Afridi in the first over of an innings.#PAKvZIM #T20WorldCup
— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) October 27, 2022
Either Shaheen is still unfit or is badly short of match practice.. bowling gentle medium pace #ZIMvPAK #T20WorldCup
— Mehran मेहरान 🇮🇳 (@mehranzaidi) October 27, 2022
Really sad seeing Shaheen bowling 130kph with the new ball. He clearly isn’t fit. Why are we picking him if unfit?🧐 #PAKvZIM
— Haroon (@hazharoon) October 27, 2022
Shaheen aiming for the yorker right from the start. Good signs.
Run-up still lacking flare, though. #PAKvZIM
— Shahjahan Khurram (@91Shahji) October 27, 2022
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