Shaheen Shah Afridi undergoes appendectomy as England Tests come too soon for Pakistan seamer

Three-fours weeks of recovery, on top of two weeks of rehab on his troublesome knee means the left-arm seamer will have a watching brief through the three-Test series

Nick Howson | 21/11/2022 at 11:02

Pakistan will be without Shaheen Shah Afridi for the England Test series after his absence was extended by an appendectomy.

The 22-year-old underwent the procedure on Sunday (November 20) and faces three-four weeks of recovery, leading to him being omitted from the 18-strong group.

Still requiring two weeks of rehabilitation on his right knee, Shaheen is also unlikely to face New Zealand in December and January.

"Had an appendectomy today but Alhumdulillah feeling better," Shaheen posted on Instagram. "Remember me in your prayers."

A PCB statement alongside confirmation of the squad for the England Tests, read: "Shaheen was unavailable for selection after he underwent appendicitis surgery on Sunday, which will require three-four weeks' rest following which he will resume his two-week rehabilitation on his right knee."

Shaheen was already facing a limited role throughout the remainder of 2022, after playing at the men's T20 World Cup following a three-and-a-half-month recovery period.

The uncertainty that he would feature in the longest format grew after Shaheen limped out of the final having jarred his troublesome right knee during the England chase at the MCG.

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^{Babar Azam will turn to Naseem Shah (left) and Haris Rauf to lead the attack (ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)}

He returned to the field to bowl a single delivery but was subsequently permanently withdrawn. Scans did not detect any further damage but he was prescribed two weeks of rehab, essentially ruling him out of the first Test in Rawalpindi starting on December 1.

A statement added that his "return to international cricket will be subject to the champion fast bowler's successful completion of the rehabilitation programme and following go-aheads by the medical staff".

Babar Azam will instead have to turn to Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah to lead the seam attack. With Hasan Ali omitted, uncapped seamers Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Wasim Jnr are the backup options.