Pakistan's star pacer Shaheen Afridi will get fit in time for his team's opening match against India, according to PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja. The chairman made this big revelation during a show called 'Replay' on Dawn News, a Pakistan-based news channel, and the anchor of the show, Abdul Ghaffar posted the news on his personal Twitter account.
"BREAKING NEWS: Shaheen Shah Afridi is fit and ready to play vs India on Opening match of ICC T20 World Cup, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja on #Replay #RamizOnReplay," the tweet from Abdul Ghaffar said.
Shaheen was not a part of Pakistan's team that reached the final of the Asia Cup. He also missed their seven-match series against England, which Pakistan lost 4-3 and the T20I tri-series involving New Zealand and Bangladesh in the Kiwi country. In his absence, 19-year-old Naseem Shah has staked his place in the playing XI for the Pakistan team.
Pakistan is set to open their Super 12 campaign at the T20 World Cup against their bitter rivals India in Australia on October 23, after the group stages. They will hope to replicate their win over the Men in Blue in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup, which eventually helped eliminate the record champions from the competition.
Shaheen has played only one T20I against India but it was enough to rubber-stamp his position as a key player for his team and a threat to the Indians. In that 10-wicket win over the Men in Blue, Shaheen dismantled India's top order to bag three wickets for 31 runs as India were bowled out for 151 runs, a score that was easily chased down by the Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in 17.5 overs.
