Shaheen Afridi has returned to Pakistan. The left-arm pacer has sustained a knee injury during the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26, forcing him to depart prematurely from Australia.
Shaheen Afridi in a race against time
While fielding during the Brisbane Heat’s match against the Adelaide Strikers on December 27, Shaheen hurt himself. Later, Brisbane informed that the 25-year-old had suffered cartilage damage to his knee. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Cricket Australia, and Brisbane agreed that Shaheen returning to Pakistan for treatment would be the best move.
“I’m massively thankful to the Brisbane Heat team and fans for showering me with immense love and support. Due to an unexpected injury, I have been called back by the PCB and will have to take rehab. Hopefully, I will be back in the field soon,” Shaheen said in a statement.
This has cast serious doubts on Shaheen’s participation in the T20 World Cup 2026. This isn’t the first time that the left-arm pacer has had knee issues. He had injured himself in the 2022 edition of the ICC tournament, which was also held in Australia. Shaheen had to undergo surgery. His pace dropped, and he took significant time to recover.
Having returned to his best, Shaheen has been dealt another knee injury blow. The fast bowler will undergo assessment and rehabilitation at the PCB’s High-Performance Centre in Lahore. Shaheen has around 1 month to recover, as Pakistan will commence their T20 World Cup campaign on February 7 against the Netherlands in Colombo.
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule
| Date | Opposition | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 7 | Netherlands | Sinhalese Sports Club (Colombo), Sri Lanka | 11:00 AM |
| February 10 | USA | Sinhalese Sports Club (Colombo), Sri Lanka | 7:00 PM |
| February 15 | India | R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo), Sri Lanka | 7:00 PM |
| February 18 | Namibia | Sinhalese Sports Club (Colombo), Sri Lanka | 3:00 PM |
