PSL 2021: Why has Shahid Afridi been ruled out of Pakistan Super League 2021?

Shahid Afridi: The former Pakistani captain won’t be part of the remainder of Pakistan Super League 2021.

Pakistan Super League franchise Multan Sultans have received a massive blow as veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been ruled out of the remaining sixth season of the Pakistan Super League.

Originally curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic, PSL 2021 is all set to resume next month. Having won a lone out of their five matches so far, Sultans are reeling at the fifth position on the points table.

Afridi, 41, had played four matches for Multan this season picking two wickets at an economy and strike rate of 9 and 45 respectively. With the bat in hand, Afridi had scored three runs in two innings at a strike rate of 50.

While these numbers don’t speak highly of Afridi’s recent form, his two-and-a-half-decade experience of playing competitive cricket will surely be missed in Multan’s dugout in June.

Why has Shahid Afridi been ruled out of Pakistan Super League 2021?

The development regarding him missing the rest of the season was shared by Afridi himself on his Twitter account. It is worth mentioning that the former Pakistani captain suffered a back injury while training for PSL 2021.

“While training for the remainder of @thePSLt20, I felt lower back pain & had to consult a doctor. Unfortunately I have been advised to rest and can no longer accompany my team @MultanSultans. I am heartbroken as I was practicing and training really hard,” read Afridi’s tweet.

While training for the remainder of @thePSLt20, I felt lower back pain & had to consult a doctor. Unfortunately I have been advised to rest and can no longer accompany my team @MultanSultans. I am heartbroken 💔 as I was practicing and training really hard. pic.twitter.com/OjaHD1w9cg

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) May 24, 2021

Having represented Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings previously, Afridi had joined Sultans in 2019. In 21 T20s for Multan, Afridi has dismissed 19 batsmen at an economy and strike rate of 7.63 and 20.11 respectively.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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