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While bowling in the Asia Cup 2023 opener against Nepal, pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi gave Pakistan injury scare three days ahead of clash against arch-rivals India.
After posting a colossal total of 342/6 riding on Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed's brilliant centuries, Shaheen Afridi ripped through Nepal's batting line up. Shaheen left Nepal gasping by taking two wickets in the very first over. But soon after bowling an exceptional five-over spell in which he took two scalps while conceding 27 runs, Shaheen was taken off the field after feeling discomfort, upon advice from the team's medical staff.
However, he was brought back to field in the 17th over.
This is not the first time Afridi has been dogged by injury concerns. He missed the Asia Cup in 2022 due to a knee injury and was unable to complete his spell in the T20 World Cup 2022 final against England. With the Asia Cup 2023 serving as a crucial prelude to the World Cup later in the year, Pakistan will need Afridi at peak physical condition.
Further complicating matters is the strenuous travel schedule during the Asia Cup. After the match against Nepal in Multan, Afridi is slated to fly to Sri Lanka for Pakistan's key match against India at Pallekele on September 2. Then, within 24 hours on September 3, he will travel back to Lahore for a Super Four game on September 6, followed by another flight to Sri Lanka the next day for a game on September 9. The challenging itinerary adds an extra layer of complexity to his recovery prospects.
Talking about the match, besides Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan too chipped in with two wickets apiece to leave Nepal lurching on 104/8.
Earlier, Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed cracked brilliant centuries to help Pakistan post a big total of 342/6. The dynamic duo forged a game-changing 214-run stand, both registering centuries in the process. Babar Azam joined the elite ranks of batters like India's Virat Kohli, crossing the 150-run mark in Asia Cup history. On the other side, Iftikhar Ahmed's exceptional century took just 67 balls, making him the second-fastest Pakistani and fourth fastest overall to achieve this feat in Asia Cup cricket. He joins an illustrious list that includes former greats like Shahid Afridi, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Suresh Raina.
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