Pakistan’s star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi is just one wicket away from recording a century of wickets in Test cricket, as he returns to Red Ball cricket after a gap of almost a year.
When Shaheen opened the bowling for Pakistan in a two-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka at the Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota on Tuesday, it was almost a year since he started for his country after suffering a knee injury. had donated to the whites. The first of two Test matches in Galle last year.
The opening of the action was similar – fast, deadly swing and hitting the ball with the right length. He took three wickets for 36 runs in 12 overs, including three maidens, as Pakistan bowled out the opposition for 196 before tea in the first innings.
On the final day, they came back from 4-2-2-1 as hosts Pakistan could only manage 88 for four, scoring 342 thanks to half-centuries from Shaun Masood, Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel.
“I am very excited to make my Test comeback in the country where I was injured,” Shaheen told PCB Digital in Hambantota.
“Injuries are part of a player’s life, but it’s good to be back. I’m enjoying red ball cricket a lot and I’m one wicket away from a century of Test wickets, which will be a big achievement for me.
The nature of the injury required his return to be gradual and orderly, and he had not played a first-class match since the fourth morning of the first Test at Galle when he landed awkwardly on the boundary trying to stop the ball.
He made his international return at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia in October last year but sprained his knee in the final, which ruled him out of England (Tests) and New Zealand (Tests and ODIs). lost the home series against
He finally returned to Lahore Qalandars earlier this year to help them retain the Pakistan Super League title before featuring in the 10-match limited overs series against New Zealand in April.
Before being named in the Test squad for the two Tests, Pakistan’s first in the third round of the ICC World Test Championship, Shaheen was on his way to Nottinghamshire, where he Ensure they meet the required workload levels to get into the rhythm.
He said it takes time to get used to red ball cricket after playing white ball, adding: “But the Karachi camp proved beneficial for me. Test cricket requires patience and you have to work in partnership with fellow bowlers. In the last year, I have played more white-ball matches, but when I was playing in the UK, I also bowled extra overs after matches to meet the required workload — even with the red ball. too
“It seems like yesterday when I got injured. I will make my Test comeback on the same ground where I got injured. I was talking to my physiotherapist about it.
“It’s an honor to represent Pakistan in any format and I enjoy playing for Pakistan. I hope we start this World Test Championship cycle well and qualify for the finals. , which we lacked. The last two iterations,” the fast bowler said.
Shaheen is set to become the 11th Pakistan fast bowler to take 100 Test wickets. But what makes his return more interesting is the milestone.
The fast bowler said there was a lot of excitement for the 100th wicket too, but the fast bowler had to wait a long time.
“I was just one wicket away and the new ball was going to be available,” he said, recalling the first Test against Gaul 12 months ago.
“I was planning to use the new ball to reach this milestone, but I got injured before I got the new ball. So I had to wait a long time. Being away from cricket is very difficult but the time has helped me learn a lot which will help me to perform well for Pakistan in all formats.
His 99 wickets have come in just 25 matches at an average of 24.86. He also has four five-wicket hauls and a 10-wicket haul in the match. However, Shaheen has added another dimension to his game by strengthening his batting during his recovery.
His unbeaten 44 off just 15 balls set up Lahore Qalandars’ sensational win over Multan Sultans in the final of PSL 8 and he made his fiery skills known on the international stage when he bowled New Zealand’s Blair Tickner. 22 (with the help of three sixes and a four). Pakistan reached 334 in the last over of the 4th ODI in Karachi.
“I’m a first bowler,” he laughed. “But, whenever I get a chance to make an impact with the bat for my country, I will.”
