Shaheen ready to soar again

LAHORE: Pakistan quick Shaheen Afridi is ready to put a frustrating recent period behind him and focus on making his long-awaited return to cricket this month, a report on the International Cricket Council’s official website said.

Afridi made a low-key return to playing when he turned out for the Lahore Qalandars in a warm-up match for the upcoming Pakistan Super League this week, and the left-armer is expected to make his competitive return against the Multan Sultans in the opening match of the tournament on February 13.

It will end a difficult few months for the Pakistan fast-bowling star, who has not featured at any level since he re-injured his knee while holding on to a superb outfield catch to dismiss Harry Brook in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia in November.

The freak injury saw Afridi sit out a busy period of cricket as Pakistan hosted England for the first time in 17 years in a three-match Test series on home soil, before entertaining New Zealand in both Test matches and ODI fixtures over the New Year.

Pakistan struggled in the absence of their pace spearhead, as Ben Stokes’ team registered a 3-0 Test series whitewash to end any outside chance of the Asian side qualifying for this year’s ICC World Test Championship and failed to either win the series against the Kiwis shortly after.

But it was the red-ball cricket that Afridi missed most, as Pakistan became another victim of England’s brash Test match tactics under the tutelage of new coach Brendon McCullum.

“It is tough when you miss your home games because of the injury,” Afridi told PCB Digital recently. “Before our Test home season, I even missed the seven England T20Is.

“I was more distressed for missing the Tests, because I like Test cricket more.

“A bowler is measured on how he performs in Test cricket and I wanted to take wickets against England.”

Afridi said the peak of his frustration came during the thrilling final moments of the pivotal second Test in Multan, when Pakistan fell just 27 runs short of chasing down a huge fourth-innings total of 355 for victory.

The 22-year-old admitted he wanted nothing more than to be able to pull on his whites and help his teammates to a famous triumph.

“It came when I was watching the (Multan Test) match and our tail-enders were not able to finish the game,” Afridi said. “I wanted to hit a few sixes there and finish the match for Pakistan.

“Also, when they (England) were scoring a lot of runs, I wanted to give my input with the ball.”