Sunil Gavaskar makes a surprising statement over claims on Shaheen Shah Afridi’s injury as turning point in the final

India’s legendary cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar feels that even if Shaheen Shah Afridi had finished his spell of 4 overs in the 20-20 World Cup final against England, Pakistan would still have lost the game. The Pakistan seamers hobbled off the field in the 16th over after picking up an injury.

41 runs were needed in 29 balls, at that stage. Shaheen Shah Afridi didn’t bowl, thereafter, and England went on to chase down the target in 19 overs. Shedding light on the same, Gavaskar said Pakistan were 20 runs short in the first innings and Shaheen completing his four-over spell wouldn’t have made a lot of difference.

“I don’t think so, as they didn’t have enough runs on the board. They were around 15-20 runs short. Had they got to 150-155, they would have had a better chance and their bowlers would have had a bit of a cushion. But I don’t think the 10 deliveries that Shaheen didn’t bowl would have made that much of a difference. Maybe Pakistan would have got another wicket, but England would still have won,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying on India Today.

Pakistan skipper, Babar Azam, however, had a contrasting opinion on the same. He believed that the result would have been different had Shaheen Afridi not picked up the injury.

“We were 20 runs short but the fight to the last over was unbelievable. Our bowling is one of the best, but unfortunately, Shaheen’s injury cost us a different result, but that’s part of the game,” Babar said during the post-match presentation ceremony.

Shaheen Afridi bowled exceedingly well in the final of the 20-20 World Cup against England. He got Pakistan the first breakthrough in the form of Alex Hales with an unplayable inswinger and returned with figures of 1 for 13 in 2.1 overs.