Shaheen Fitness And World Cup Key As Pakistan Tackle Netherlands

15.08.2022 - 06:41 sports.ndtv.com

Pakistan will look to collect crucial World Cup qualifying points when they tackle the Netherlands in a three-match ODI series from Tuesday but will have a wary eye on the fitness of star bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The 22-year-old paceman suffered a knee injury on the recent tour of Sri Lanka, a worrying setback with the Asia Cup -- and a meeting with old rivals India -- coming up at the end of the month.

Pakistan team bosses do not want to overload a fast bowler who has already played 97 times across all three formats since his international debut just four years ago. "We're taking a couple of doctors with us to take care of Shaheen and want him to play a game against Netherlands to see if he's fit and ready for the Asia Cup," said Pakistan skipper Babar Azam. "But we have 11 trump cards.

Each of them can be match winners on their day. I have faith in every one of them, whether batters or bowlers." The series in Rotterdam was postponed due to Covid in 2020.

cricket cup as Shaheen Afridi Babar Azam Asia Cup Shaheen Shah Afridi Scott Edwards Netherlands Australia India Sri Lanka Pakistan Rotterdam

Rahul Dravid said on Saturday that Ravindra Jadeja cannot be ruled out of the T20 World Cup slated for October this year in Australia. The star all-rounder is already out of the ongoing Asia Cup due to knee injury. Another high-octane India versus Pakistan clash is set for Sunday, as both arch-rivals will be looking to make the best out of their opening Super Four match of Asia Cup 2022.

"Don't Want To Jump To Conclusions": Rahul Dravid On Ravindra Jadeja Missing T20 World Cup

Team India head coach Rahul Dravid said he does not want to "jump to any conclusions" on Ravindra Jadeja missing the 2022 T20 World Cup shortly after it was reported that the star all-rounder was to undergo a knee surgery that would rule him out of the marquee tournament. Jadeja on Friday was ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing Asia Cup in the UAE with a knee injury. On Saturday, news agency PTI quoted a source in the BCCI as saying that Jadeja is set to undergo knee surgery, which would keep him on the sidelines for an "indefinite" period.

Asia Cup 2022: Pakistan enter Super 4s with record win over Hong Kong, meet India on Sunday

Pakistan set up a second showdown against arch-rivals India in as many weeks with a record 155-run win over Hong Kong in a must-win Asia Cup match here on Friday. Mohammad Rizwan had to work hard for his 78 off 57 balls as Pakistan got a much-needed final flourish to post 193 for two against Hong Kong. Hong Kong were simply blown away in the run-chase with the Pakistani attack proving to be too good for them. Their innings folded up for just 38 in 10.4 overs, sending Pakistan into the Super 4s as the second placed team from Group A. As it happened: Pakistan vs Hong KongIt was Pakistan's biggest win in the shortest format. Pakistan will meet India, who topped Group A, on Sunday. Hong Kong had shown a bit of potential with the bat against India but they simply surrendered to the Pakistani attack. It was a procession after Naseem Shah struck twice in the third over of the innings. Then it was the turn of the spinners, Shadab Khan (4/8) and Mohammad Nawaz (3/5), to do the damage as they shared seven wickets.

Asia Cup 2022: Pakistan to face Hong Kong in virtual knock out for place in last four

Given the recent form of Hong Kong, it will not be a walk in the park for the Pakistani team. Hong Kong have recently been in a rich vein of form, winning the qualifying tournament and remaining unbeaten. They ran India close in the previous edition of the tournament, and the last thing Pakistan would want to do is write them off.

Pakistan optimistic of Shaheen Afridi playing World Cup after London rehab

cricket board is optimistic of his participation in the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia later this year. Left-arm fast bowler Afridi suffered the injury in Sri Lanka last month and was ruled out of the ongoing Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates despite being named in the preliminary squad by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "Shaheen Afridi requires uninterrupted, dedicated knee specialist care and London offers some of the best sports medical and rehabilitation facilities in the world," PCB chief medical officer Najeebullah Soomro said in a statement on Monday.

Shaheen Afridi Off To London For Treatment, Focus On Availability For T20 World Cup

Pakistan's top pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will undergo treatment of his knee injury in London. He is expected to regain complete fitness before the T20 World Cup starting mid-October, the PCB said on Monday. Shaheen has departed for London where he will undergo rehabilitation of his injury which he sustained while fielding during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in mid-July. The knee injury ruled him out of the second Test against Sri Lanka and subsequent ODI series in Netherlands as well as the ongoing Asia Cup in the UAE.