Pakistan’s star pacer Shaheen Afridi has been out of cricketing action since the T20 World Cup 2022 Final against England. The left-arm pacer aggravated his knee injury while taking a catch and had to leave the field midway. Afridi was therefore ruled out of Pakistan’s Test series against England.
His teammate Haris Rauf, who played a crucial role in Pakistan reaching the final of the showpiece event, was also recently ruled out of the England series with an injury. Rauf was ruled out with a thigh injury. The pacer stepped on the ball while fielding on the first day and hence did not bowl for the rest of the match. "A grade II strain in the right quad has ruled Rauf out of the Test series against England," the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
Now, as the two pacers are in their rehabilitation, Shaheen was seen making a funny remark about him and Rauf being out of action with injuries. In a video doing the rounds on internet, Afridi is seen addressing a group of people. In the video, Afridi says “Hum unfit nahi huway hamay nazar lag gaye hai” referring to the injuries he and Rauf have sustained.
While Afridi saw the funny side of the injuries Pakistan’s two premium pacers have sustained, former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed is not impressed with the management's treatment of Haris Rauf. Javed slammed the management for recklessly playing the right-arm quick in every series and also hurrying his Test debut.
"To make a comeback, Pakistan will have to play bowlers. Once they get a hold of a bowler, be in T20Is, ODIs or Tests - uska bedha gark karke saans lete hain (they don't rest unless it is ruined). Haris should not be playing Tests because he is not that trained,” said Javed in an interview.