Junaid Khan not happy with injury-prone Shaheen, Shadab playing in T20 Blast

Pakistan cricketer, Junaid Khan, expressed his dissatisfaction with the participation of Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan in the ongoing Vitality T20 Blast 2023, despite their history of injury concerns. 

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Khan said that their inclusion in the league may jeopardize their fitness ahead of crucial international fixtures, including the upcoming World Cup 2023 scheduled in India.

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The left-arm pacer expressed his belief that it might have been advantageous if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had prohibited them from participating in such leagues.

"Shaheen Afridi is playing in all three formats for the PCB. He recently returned from an injury, and you must have seen that he has played only two matches so far, and has struggled in both games. In my opinion, it would have been best if the board didn't allow him to play and advised him to work on his fitness and take some rest because the World Cup is near, and there are more series ahead, and we need him. He is not needed in the league; he is the backbone of the Pakistan team," Junaid said.

Shaheen's performance in the tournament hasn't been up to his usual standards, despite playing consistently. Over the past five days, he has participated in four matches but has managed to secure just four wickets at an economy of 8.50.

The 33-year-old also raised concerns about Shadab Khan, who also have had fitness issues during recent times. 

Shadab, who made his Sussex debut against Somerset on Friday, was involved in a nasty collision with his teammate, Nathan McAndrew, while attempting to take a catch.

On Saturday morning, Shadab took to Twitter, to inform his fans about his condition.

Alhamdulilah I am better and feeling good. My concussion tests are all done. As a precaution I will take rest for a few days. Thank you for all ur prayers and support

— Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) May 27, 2023

"The way Shadab has come, he already has some fitness issues, and he has also been allowed to play in the league. In my opinion, PCB should think about these things," Junaid said.

Junaid also highlights the names of the young players from the national side who are currently showcasing their skills in the ongoing Vitality T20 Blast 2023, expressing his belief that they will gain valuable experience by participating in these leagues, much like he did during his time. 

However, he still expresses concerns about the injury status of senior players and questioned who would be held accountable if any injuries were to occur.

"Just like Usama Mir and Zaman Khan came to participate in the league, these are the youngsters who have come here to learn, just like I came here in the beginning and learned a lot, so the players who play T20 cricket or just played one or two matches, when you allow such players to participate in the leagues, they learn a lot of things, but when you allow players like Shaheen and Shadab, and God forbid if they injured themselves, then who will be responsible for that?" he questioned.