Don't think he's fully fit - Shastri wants Shaheen to take break after World Cup

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri made a bold prediction regarding one of Pakistan's brightest stars. With two losses in two Super 12 matches, Babar Azam's Pakistan team is headed for an early exit from the ICC World T20 2022 in Australia. On Sunday, the Pakistan team led by Shaheen Shah Afridi faced the Netherlands in T20 World Cup match No.29 at Perth Stadium.

Shastri expressed his thoughts on Afridi's disappointing return to international cricket ahead of Pakistan's must-win match against the Netherlands. Due to a knee injury, Afridi missed the whole Asia Cup. The speedster made his T20I comeback for Pakistan's T20 World Cup showdown with arch-rivals India.

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Shaheen went wicketless at the T20 World Cup in Pakistan's Super 12 games against India and Zimbabwe. When asked about Afridi's performance in the T20 World Cup, former India all-rounder Shastri stated that the Pakistani think-tank pushed the star pacer into action. The 1983 World Cup champion also predicted that bowler Shaheen Afridi would take a break from competitive cricket following the T20 World Cup.

“One thing is clear to me, that he is hurting. In the sense of hurting, I mean physically. I don't think he is fully fit. He has been brought back a little too early. So the expectations are a little bit too much on him. This is a World Cup. So the pressure is on him; he wants to play. The country wants him to play, and selectors want him to play. But he is gonna take it slowly. He is gonna get into the rhythm as the tournament progresses. I see him taking a big break after the tournament,” Shastri told Star Sports.

Pacer Afridi took the vital wicket of Netherlands opener Stephan Myburgh on Sunday to begin his T20 World Cup 2022 wicket tally. Afridi conceded 19 runs in four overs and took one wicket for Pakistan. Afridi-starrer at Perth, Pakistan, restricted the Netherlands to 91-9 in 20 overs.