Pakistan speedster Shaheen Afridi has been ruled out of the upcoming second Test against Sri Lanka that starts on Sunday at Galle International Stadium. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed in a statement that Afridi suffered a knee injury during the fourth day of the opening Test that Pakistan won by four wickets.
Notably, Afridi had played a vital role in bundling out Sri Lanka for 222 in their first innings. The left-armer had picked up a four-wicket haul for 58 in 14.1 overs. However, in the second innings, Afridi only bowled seven overs and left the field after appearing to be in discomfort on day three.
The problem appeared when Afridi, while fielding at mid-wicket, dived in an attempt to stop Dinesh Chandimal‘s boundary and was seen hobbling off the field. He was taken for scans, and swelling and pain ruled him out.
Despite getting ruled out of the second and final Test, the lanky fast bowler will stay back with the Pakistan contingent till the end of the match, where his preliminary treatment and management will carry on under the administration of the team’s medical staff.
“Due to a knee injury sustained on the fourth day of the first Test, Shaheen Afridi will miss the second Test, which will be played in Galle from July 24,” read a team statement as quoted by the Times of India.
Afridi’s absence from the upcoming second Test opens the door for one of the fast bowlers, Haris Rauf or bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf to feature in the playing XI. Not to mention, Afridi’s injury also put brakes on his bid to become the 11th Pakistan seam bowler to take 100 Test wickets. He is currently stuck on 99 scalps in the longest format.
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