“If I didn’t get injured, maybe we could’ve won,” Shaheen Afridi on T20 WC

Pakistan’s ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi commented on his heart-breaking injury in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 final against England and pointed at the possibility of Pakistan triumphing had he not been injured.

In the enthralling T20 World Cup final, Pakistan, batting first, set England to chase a mere 138 on a tricky Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) surface, which was making it difficult for the batters to score freely.

Pakistan’s pace attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, showcased determination not to let England run away with an easy victory as they rattled their top-order and restricted them to 45/3 in the sixth over.

Following the early setback, Ben Stokes and Harry Brook launched England’s recovery as the pair anchored the run chase with a crucial partnership.

Pakistan were in dire need of a breakthrough and they got it; courtesy of Shadab Khan, who deceived Brook with a loopy delivery outside off and the latter fired it straight to long-off where Shaheen Shah Afridi dove forward to gobble it.

The breakthrough, instead of a success, turned into a massive blow for the green shirts as they lost the services of their ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who hurt his injured knee in the process.

Shaheen then walked off the field briefly, returned to roars and raced in to bowl the 16th with England still requiring a tough 41 from 30 balls, but pulled up after one ball.

Ben Stokes then smashed a four and six off Iftikhar Ahmed, who was given the ball to complete the 16th, and it was over for Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Shaheen Shah Afridi has finally opened up on the heartbreaking incident in an interview with ESPN Cricinfo and also opined that Pakistan may have won if he did not get injured in such a clutch situation.

“And in this tournament [2022], if I didn’t get injured at such a crucial moment, maybe we could’ve won. Maybe if I had stayed fit and bowled…” he trails off. “Injuries can happen at any time,” said Shaheen.

The left-arm pacer also recalled the thrashing, he received from Matthew Wade in the previous edition, which ultimately steered Australia to their maiden T20 World Cup title.

“Obviously, it’s every player’s dream to win a World Cup for his country and I still remember 2021, how that ended,” he said.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, however, shared that he is trying to forget the past in order to be able to move forward.

“If I think too much about them then I won’t be able to move ahead,” Shaheen stated.

The left-arm pacer also responded to a question regarding a dip in his bowling speed post-injury and termed taking wickets more important than the pace.

“Everyone has a view about it [the pace], but I’ve been feeling good. You look at yourself, even if you are bowling 110kmph and taking wickets, you’re feeling good. I took wickets. I gave 100% in the field, that matters more. Speed doesn’t matter as much but if there has been a dip, it will improve with time.

“[I was injured] two months out before the [T20] World Cup, two-three months after the [T20] World Cup also. So it will of course take time to get back. That match energy or fitness, you only get it from playing matches. Since the PSL I’ve been feeling better, I got better through it and then played internationals for Pakistan as well. With time I’ll improve and the more I play the more I’ll improve.”

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