Pakistan’s talented fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, celebrated his 23rd birthday on April 6th with close family members, including his father-in-law, and former national team captain Shahid Afridi. The event featured a customary cake-cutting ceremony, and the two cricketing legends captured some lovely photos together, which senior Afridi later shared on social media. The candid images have since gone viral, with fans and supporters sending their best wishes to the young cricketer. Known for his impressive fast-bowling skills, Shaheen is regarded as one of the most promising players in the Pakistan cricket team. Afridi posted on social media, “Happy birthday, Shaheen! Stay happy.”
After a four-month absence due to a knee injury, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who turned 23 today, is all set to make his return to international cricket. He has been included in the Pakistan squads for the upcoming series against New Zealand, which will be played across Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi from April 14 to May 7.
Shaheen missed five Tests and three ODIs against England and New Zealand after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 as he underwent rehabilitation for his knee injury, which he sustained during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in July. As a result, he also missed the second Test against Sri Lanka, the ODI series against the Netherlands, the ACC Asia Cup in the UAE, and the seven-match T20I series in Pakistan.
However, Shaheen made a remarkable comeback in the Pakistan Super League 8, where he led Lahore Qalandars to become the first team to successfully defend the title. He put on an outstanding performance with both bat and ball, scoring 133 runs at a strike rate of 168.35 and taking 19 wickets at an economy rate of 9.13.