Returning Shaheen Shah Afridi is dreaming about his a centesimal Test wicket
Shaheen Shah Afridi is “excited” to make his long-awaited Test comeback after lacking a yr of red-ball cricket. He is about to play Pakistan’s first Test in opposition to Sri Lanka in Galle on July 16 and it was at this venue precisely 12 months in the past he suffered a difficult ligament harm in his proper knee.
Afridi took three months to get well and made a comeback within the T20 World Cup in October in Australia earlier than being sidelined once more as he aggravated the identical harm. He missed the complete residence sequence in opposition to England and New Zealand however made a profitable return in January 2023, when he led Lahore Qalandars to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) title. In all this time, he has not performed a aggressive sport with the crimson ball.”
“I’m very excited to be making my Test comeback within the nation the place I used to be injured,” Afridi was quoted on the PCB website. “Injuries are a part of an athlete’s life, however it’s good to be again. I take pleasure in red-ball cricket loads, and I’m one wicket away from a century of Test wickets, which might be an enormous achievement for me.
“It seems like yesterday when I was injured. I will be making my Test return at the same ground where I was injured. I was talking to our physiotherapist about it. It is a matter of pride to represent Pakistan in any format, and I enjoy playing for Pakistan. I hope we will have a good beginning to this cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC), and we will qualify for the final, something we have missed in the last two iterations.”
In his last Test earlier than harm, Afridi took 4 for 58 to bowl Sri Lanka out for 222 within the first innings. But he bowled simply seven (of 100) overs within the second innings. He left the sphere after showing to be in discomfort on day three. He is now on 99 wickets from 25 Tests.
His return to worldwide cricket hasn’t been simple. Despite being injured and being suggested relaxation for six weeks, Afridi ended up on tour with the remainder of the Pakistan group to the Netherlands and later Dubai for the Asia Cup. The rehab did not work. His harm bought worse and solely then did the PCB determine he wanted specialist care and flew him to London.
Since returning to white-ball cricket in October final yr, he has featured in solely 16 worldwide matches thus far – lower than a 3rd of Pakistan’s complete matches since July final yr.
Playing within the T20 Blast this summer season within the UK, he completed as Nottinghamshire’s highest-wicket-taker with 22 strikes in 14 video games at an financial system charge of 8.4. There was additionally a risk that he would possibly play a number of four-day video games for the county, but it surely did not materialise.
“It takes time to get used to red-ball cricket after playing with white ball,” Afridi stated. “But the Karachi camp proved beneficial for me. Test cricket demands patience, and you have to work in partnerships with fellow bowlers. Over the last year, I have played more white-ball matches, but when I was playing in the United Kingdom, I bowled extra overs after matches – even with the red ball – to meet the desired workload.
Afridi couldn’t help but look back over how long he has been waiting for his 100th Test wicket. “I used to be just one wicket away, and the brand new ball was about to be obtainable [in the Test against Sri Lanka last year]. I used to be planning to utilise the brand new ball to achieve that milestone, however I bought injured earlier than we bought the brand new ball. So, I’ve needed to wait loads. It could be very robust to be away from cricket, however time has helped me be taught loads, which is able to assist me carry out nicely for Pakistan throughout codecs.”
There was some talk during Pakistan’s home season in 2023 that Afridi had lost a little bit of his pace post his comeback, but he isn’t fussed. “Speed would not matter as a lot but when there was a dip, it’ll enhance with time,” Afridi had said in May.