In a major jolt to Pakistan cricket team, their prime pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been ruled out of the Asia Cup 2022, which is scheduled to kick off from August 27. Shaheen's absence will also be a major boost to the Rohit Sharma-led India as the arch-nemesis ahead of the high-octane drama between the neighbouring nation on August 28.
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Saturday announced that Shaheen Afridi has been advised 4-6 weeks of rest to recover from a knee injury.
Meanwhile, legendary Pakistani cricketer Waqar Younis said that Shaheen's absence will be a "big relief" for India's top order.
"Shaheen's injury Big relief for the Indian top order batsmen," Waqar Younis tweeted.
"Sad we won't be seeing him in #AsiaCup2022 Get fit soon Champ," the tweet added.
Meanwhile, PCB's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Najeebullah Soomro was quoted as saying in an official statement,"I have spoken with Shaheen and he is understandably upset with the news, but he is brave young man who has vowed to come back strongly to serve his country and team"
Last time the neighbouring nation locked horns was in T20 World Cup 2021, where Babar Azam-led side thrashed India by 10 wickets and Shaheen's lethal bowling saw India's top order in complete disarray as he sent their top-order batters Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli back to pavilion.
Pakistan are yet to announce a replacement for Shaheen Afridi in their Asia Cup squad.
India vs Pakistan's head-to-head in Asia Cup
Since the inception of the tournament in 1984, India and Pakistan have played against each other on 14 occasions in the Asia Cup.
India has won eight while arch-rivals Pakistan have secured five victories. India has registered seven victories out of the 13 matches against Pakistan in the ODI format in the Asia Cup.
MS Dhoni led India to a five-wicket victory against Pakistan in the teams’ only T20I meeting in the Asia Cup at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Bangladesh in 2016.
India vs Pakistan's overall performance in Asia Cup
Seven-time champions India have won 36 of the 54 matches in their Asia Cup history. They lost 16 games, while one match was tied and another ended with no result.
India has a win percentage of 66.67 in the Asia Cup.
On the other hand, Pakistan has won 28 of the 49 matches that they have played in the marquee Asian cricket tournament. They have lost 20 matches while one match ended with no result. They currently have a win percentage of 57.14 in the Asia Cup.
India's Asia Cup squad: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.
Standby: Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Deepak Chahar.
Pakistan's Asia Cup squad: Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir.
