T20 World Cup: Shaheen Shah Afridi thanks his physios in London, posts photo before flying to Australia

T20 World Cup: Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi is ready to fly out to Australia after completing his rehab at Premier League club Crystal Palace.

Shaheen Afridi with his physios. (Courtesy: Twitter)

By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi is set to fly out to Australia after completing his rehab in London. The ace pacer posted a photo with his physios ahead of his flight and thanked the team for their services. Shaheen has been in London with the Crystal Palace team since the Asia Cup, where controversy boiled over his situation.

Former Pakistan cricketer Shaheed Afridi was the first to make it public that Shaheen had been spending his own money for accommodation and rehab in London, without the help of the Pakistan Cricket Board. As criticism of the PCB grew over the situation, chairman Ramiz Raja came to the rescue and countered that PCB were not stupid to not look after one of their best assets.

In the recent times, Raja has himself updated about the conditions of Shaheen, stating that the pacer will be fully fit by the time for their first game in the T20 World Cup, against India on October 23.

The left arm pacer was injured while playing against Sri Lanka this year, when he put in a dive off his own bowling while trying to stop runs. Since then Shaheen has travelled with the Pakistan side, being monitored by the team doctors themselves, but was later shifted to London. Many had criticised the treatment of Shaheen asking why he was carried with the team, something that could have further damaged his knee.

Raja has said leading up to the World Cup, that Shaheen will be full fit for the India game, further boosting the pace attack of the Pakistan side The Babar Azam-led team is currently playing a tri-series with New Zealand and Pakistan as a preparation for the T20 World Cup.