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New Delhi: Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 preparations suffered a big blow after a knee injury ruled their star pacer Shaheen Afridi out for the remainder of the ongoing Big Bash League season. While the extent of the injury remains unknown, Afridi is set to face a race against time to be fit for the marquee T20 event starting on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
Afridi had left the field with a knee issue in Brisbane Heat's previous game against Adelaide Strikers on December 27, and after consultations with the Pakistan Cricket Board's medical staff, all parties agreed to cut short his stint in Australia's premier T20 competition.
"After consulting with the Pakistan Cricket Board's medical staff during the past 24 hours, it was agreed that Shaheen would cut short his Big Bash League stint to return home for further treatment ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup," the team said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
For Brisbane, it was yet another blow to their dwindling fast-bowling resources as Afridi became the third fast bowler to be ruled out of the BBL.
Afridi joins Spencer Johnson and Callum Vidler - both to back issues - on the injury list, and the absence of Michael Neser, who is away on international duty, has left the Heat scrambling for bowling options.
"I have enjoyed myself a lot playing for Brisbane and I am sad that I will not be able to finish the season with the team," Shaheen said in a statement.
"The BBL was everything I had heard it would be - lots of good, skilful cricket.. I have enjoyed the challenge. I wish all the players and coaches the very best for the rest of the Big Bash and will applaud their efforts as they get closer to the finals."
Stand-in skipper Xavier Bartlett, all-rounder Jack Wildermuth and uncapped left-arm seamer Oli Patterson are the only remaining fit fast bowlers in Heat's 18-member squad.
Afridi is the latest casualty in Heat's injury-hit campaign. Regular captain Nathan McSweeney has missed the last two fixtures with an ankle injury, while Tom Aslop has been sidelined for the New Year's Eve fixture against Strikers due to a knee problem.
The injury ends Afridi's horror season after being the No.1 pick in this season's overseas player draft. In his debut match against the Renegades, Afridi was taken off the attack for bowling two beamers.
In the next two games, he conceded 49 and 35 in four overs each and bagged a wicket in both fixtures. His last bowling outing in BBL 2025-26 was also expensive (26 runs in 3 overs).
Though the extent of the injury will determine how long Afridi will take to recover, a knee issue, even a minor one, generally takes a few weeks to heal, and in case of a tear, the recovery period could last for months.
