Shaheen Afridi Heads Back To Pakistan After Knee Injury Ends Bbl Run

Shaheen Shah Afridi had to end his BBL stint early because of a knee injury. Brisbane Heat confirmed that he is out of the tournament and will return home. The Pakistan Cricket Board has instructed him to begin rehabilitation as the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka nears.

Heat said Afridi will undergo a second evaluation when the team returns to Adelaide, where they will play the Strikers on Wednesday. That assessment will help finalise his travel and medical plans.

Afridi addressed fans himself, sharing a message on social media:

"I'm massively thankful to the Brisbane Heat team and fans for showering me with immense love and support," Afridi wrote on his social media handle. "Due to an unexpected injury, I have been called back by the PCB and will have to take a rehab. Hopefully, I will be back in the field soon. Meanwhile, I will be cheering for the amazing team."

Heat monitor more injury concerns

Tom Alsop is dealing with a knee issue, and Nathan McSweeney is yet to fully recover from the is still recovering from an ankle problem. They have returned to training, and the progress of both will still be monitored by staff.

This was the first season of Afridi in the BBL and it was expected to be exciting as there were a number of Pakistani stars who were involved with him. Nevertheless, his influence was not so great. He appeared in four matches and took only two wickets and finished with an economy rate of 11.19.

During that first outing, he was removed from the attack after delivering two waist-high full tosses in the 18th over against the Melbourne Renegades, deliveries directed at Tim Seifert and Oliver Peake that were deemed unsafe.

The injury appeared to occur on December 27 during the 14th over of the Strikers’ chase of 179. Afridi hobbled off while pointing to his right knee and did not return.

Heat praises Afridi’s professionalism

Despite the setback, the Brisbane Heat management spoke highly of his contribution off the field.

"Despite his season not finishing the way he would have liked, he has been a thorough professional, and we have been pleased to welcome him to Brisbane and the Heat,'' Brisbane Heat CEO Terry Svenson said.

"I know our young bowlers in the squad have benefited greatly from his advice and suggestions, and he has had strong input into the team's performances overall."

The current failure of Afridi is a continuation of the right-knee issues of a long history. In 2022, he became severely injured in Sri Lanka with a Test and was diagnosed with a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury. It disqualified him during the initial phases of the T20 World Cup and he aggravated the injury again during the final, leaving Pakistan without him at the death.

PCB looks ahead to World Cup and PSL

With the next T20 World Cup only five weeks away, Pakistan has decided to take no risks. Afridi is still a central part of the bowling team in Pakistan. He went back into rhythm during the Asia Cup and became the highest wicket-taker during the tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

He will soon rejoin PSL after the World Cup, where he continues as the captain of Lahore Qalandars. He spearheaded them to last year's title, and he was the most brilliant bowler in the knockout stages. His recovery plan is crucial to both Pakistan and the franchise.

In the meantime, Pakistan will manage its workload carefully, hoping the rehab process can get him ready for an important stretch of international cricket.