Watch: ‘Injured’ Shaheen Afridi bowls during Pakistan vs New Zealand second Test
Shaheen Afridi (Image Credit: Twitter)
Pakistan left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi was spotted bowling during the Lunch Break of the second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand. He has been injured since July last year during a Test match against Sri Lanka. After this, he missed the Netherlands tour and the Men’s Asia Cup. Notably, he was traveling with the team during these series. However, after the continental tournament, the former Pakistan U19 player was asked to rehab.
When it looked like the left-arm pacer would be ruled out of the 20-20 World Cup 2022, he was ‘rushed’ back into the national side. However, the move didn’t prove fruitful for the team as he got injured during the final of the tournament against England. While taking the catch of Harry Brook at long-off, Afridi fell on his injured knee. The latter went off for medical help.
He came back to bowl in the slog overs, only to collide after the first ball. After this, he went off and couldn’t bowl. This proved costly as the Green Brigade lost the final. Shaheen was then ruled out of the recently-concluded Test series against England and the ongoing one against New Zealand. In the ongoing second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand, the Lahore Qalandars skipper in the PSL was seen bowling.
Notably, he was bowling with a small run-up and slower speed. The video was uploaded by a renowned journalist from Pakistan on Twitter.
Watch the video here
And he is bowling too @iShaheenAfridi #PAKvNZ #ShahidAfridi #Pakistan #ShaheenAfridi pic.twitter.com/c2uSHO5KBg
— muzamilasif (@muzamilasif4) January 2, 2023
Meanwhile, talking about the second Test, the Kiwis won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers, Tom Latham and Devon Conway stitched a partnership of 134 runs. After the former’s wicket, Conway and former Test skipper Kane Williamson added another 100 runs. However, in the ongoing third session of Day One, the visitors lost three quick wickets.
It will be interesting to see how Tim Southee-led side recovers from this phase. On the other hand, this has been the best bowling from Pakistan in recent times.
