Shaheen Afridi to ‘remain under observation’ for 48 hours after helmet blow

Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi has been cleared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) medical panel, after getting hit on the helmet during the final day of the first Test against New Zealand, but will remain under observation for the next 48 hours. 

A short ball from New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner, which didn’t rise as much as expected, struck Shaheen around the back of the helmet as he was trying to duck inside.

Mandatory concussion test was conducted straight after the incident on the field. The lanky Pakistan pacer decided to carry on batting despite the option of a concussion substitute.

Pakistan team will travel to Christchurch tomorrow, which is the venue for the second Test, as they look to level the two-match series — having lost the first Test by 101 runs.

Pakistan team will train on January 1 and 2 in Christchurch, with the second Test scheduled to begin on January 3.

It must be noted that Pakistan’s bowling coach Waqar Younis will return home and will take no further part in the tour, after he was allowed to leave the team inorder to spend more time with his family bearing in mind Pakistan’s future international commitments.