Shaheen Afridi is struggling with a knee injury. The Pakistan pacer made a long-awaited comeback in the T20 World Cup 2022 but was injured shortly afterward. He intends to return to the PSL starting on February 13.
Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi’s Indian counterpart Jasprit Bumrah is also suffering from a back injury. The Mumbai Indians’ star hasn’t played in months and isn’t playing in the test series against Australia.
Former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq made a significant comparison between the two pacers. “Bumrah is nowhere close to Shaheen’s level,” Abdul Razzaq told to a local newspaper.
This wasn’t the first time Razzaq had targeted Bumrah. Earlier in 2019, Razzaq referred to Bumrah as a “baby bowler” and claimed that if he was still playing, he would have dominated the Indian pacer.
Razaaq believes Shaheen Afridi is better than Bumrah on every front
Razzaq, who represented Pakistan from 1996 to 2013, has drawn parallels between India’s and Pakistan’s two colossal fast bowlers. Cricket analysts all over the world frequently compare both bowlers.
Razzaq, 43, has stated that Shaheen Afridi is a way better bowler than Jasprit Bumrah and that the Indian pacer is nowhere near Shaheen Afridi’s level.
Jasprit Bumrah is currently recovering at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Shaheen Afridi, on the other hand, was spotted bowling in the nets and is expected to make a comeback during the PSL.
Bumrah will not play in the first two Tests of the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, his fans are expecting him to return for the final two games of the series.
Shaheen can mark his return for Lahore Qalandars
The 2023 Pakistan Super League kicks off on February 13 and concludes on March 19, with a total of 34 matches scheduled. Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan will host all the matches.
In the previous Pakistan Super League, Shaheen Afridi was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. The 21-year-old Lahore Qalandars pacer grabbed 20 wickets at an economy rate of 7.57.
Last year, Lahore Qalandars won the PSL 2022 Trophy by defeating Multan by 42 runs at home. The achievement marked the rise of a fast bowler and team captain Shaheen Afridi to the position of a premier cricketer in the country.
The premium pacer is one of the highest-paid cricketers in the PSL 2023, alongside some of the game’s biggest names. Lahore Qalandars will pay him around $170,000 for this year’s domestic T20 league.
