Afridi denies reports of shoulder injury – Cricket News Update
Pakistan all-rounder http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 put rumours to rest regarding a supposed shoulder injury he had been carrying for the last few months which was said to have been affecting his performance.
“The talk about me having fitness problems is rubbish,” he said. “I have been playing for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 for the last 15 to 16 years almost injury free. The day I feel I can't give 100 per cent fitness and performance to the team, I myself will stop playing.”
Despite being one of Pakistan’s star batsmen, Afridi’s performances have been far from consistent, owing to which rumours about his fitness surfaced. His scores in the ODI series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 last month ranged from 28, 18, 51, and 9, and 7, 25, and 3 in the T20s. His bowling performances were similarly erratic – he took 3 wickets in 4 innings during the ODIs, and followed that up with 2 scalps in the 3 T20s.
“Every player goes through a lean patch,” Afridi explained, justifying his recent outings. “I went through it and I myself was keen to do well in the [Asia Cup] final.”
The Asia Cup started off on a satisfactory note for the right-hander – he was caught and bowled by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, nor was he able to contribute much to the team’s total.
However, the tournament final against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 on March 22 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur marked a return to form for Afridi – not only did he score 32 off 22 balls, but displayed impressive economy during his 10-over bowling spell, taking one wicket at the expense of a mere 28 runs, at an impressive economy rate of 2.80 – a feat which won him the Player of the Match award.
“I will only continue playing ODIs until my presence is beneficial for the team. I will quit ODI cricket the moment I feel that I am no more at the peak of my game,” he said, adding that he would then focus solely on T20 cricket.
The 32-year-old, who made his ODI debut in 1996 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752 at Nairobi, has played 342 one-days, 27 Tests, and 48 T20Is. In addition to playing for the national team, Afridi has also plied his trade in various lucrative T20 leagues, with the recent notable performance coming for the Dhaka Gladiators in the Bangladesh Premier League, for whom he took 3 for 23 in the league final against the Barisal Burners.
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