KARACHI– Pakistan’s lead pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was on Saturday ruled out of the upcoming Asia Cup and the home series against England with a knee injury, dealing a massive blow to the team’s prospects.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Shaheen has been advised four to six weeks rest by the its medical advisory committee and independent specialists, following scans.
The board said that while Shaheen has been ruled out of the T20 Asia Cup and the seven-match T20 home series against England, he is expected to return to competitive cricket in October with the New Zealand tri-series, which will be followed by the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia.
Mohammad Hasnain has been named as the replacement for Shaheen Afridi in Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad. The 22-year-old pacer, who has played 18 T20Is, will join the young pace attack which includes Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Haris Rauf.
Hasnain, who made his T20I debut in May 2019, has picked 17 wickets at an economy rate of 7.90. The pacer has played 82 T20s, including for Quetta Gladiators, Sydney Thunder and Trinbago Knight Riders, picking 100 wickets at an economy of 8.51.
Pakistan will kickstart their Asia Cup campaign, with a clash against India on August 28 at the Dubai International Stadium
Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain)Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir.
