Pakistan's premier fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has sparked major concerns after limping off the field with a knee injury during Brisbane Heat's Big
Bash League (BBL) match against Adelaide Strikers on December 27 at the Gabba.
The incident occurred in the 14th over of the Strikers' innings while Afridi was fielding at mid-on. A powerful drive from Jamie Overton raced past him; as Shaheen attempted to stop it, he pulled up clutching his right knee and limped visibly.
He walked off unaided but in discomfort, unable to complete his spell (figures: 3-0-26-0). Earlier, he had been hit for 19 runs in an over by Harry Manenti. Brisbane Heat still won narrowly, but attention turned to Afridi's condition.
The BBL official account posted: "Shaheen Afridi left the ground in some discomfort, hoping for a quick recovery. "
No MRI results or official updates from Brisbane Heat or the PCB are available yet, though reports suggest he may miss the rest of the BBL season.This comes amid a tough BBL stint for the 25-year-old, with only two wickets in four matches at an expensive economy of 11.19.
Shaheen is Pakistan's pace spearhead, with over 100 T20I wickets and lethal new-ball swing. However, knee problems have plagued him before-a serious ligament injury in 2022 sidelined him for months, including part of the T20 World Cup final. Workload in leagues and internationals may be a factor.
Without him, Pakistan's attack, led by Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, loses its edge ahead of the T20 World Cup, starting on February 7, 2026, in India and Sri Lanka.
Will Shaheen Afridi miss T20 World Cup 2026?
As of now, with no confirmed severity and Afridi walking off without assistance, it's likely a minor strain rather than major damage. Recovery could take 3-6 weeks, allowing time to regain fitness for the World Cup, which is about six weeks away. Shaheen is likely to be ruled out for the entirety of the Big Bash League, but his T20 World Cup availability remains optimistic as of now.
