As Pakistan had won the first Test match against Sri Lanka, they must have been confident going into the second Test. However, in what comes as bad news for the Pakistan team, it has been reported that their premium pace bowler Shaheen Afridi has been out with a bruised knee and won’t be playing the second Test match against Sri Lanka.
A Pakistan team official confirmed the news of Friday putting a halt on Afridi’s hopes for 100 wickets. Shaheen Afridi completed 99 wickets in Test matches with a four-wicket haul in the first innings of the match.
Afridi sustained the injury while fielding at mid-wicket on the third day of the first Test match. In an attempt to stop a Dinesh Chandimal shot Afridi dived and fell awkwardly on his knee. The pacer was then seen hobbling off the field. A knee scan showed no fracture but pain and swelling persisted days after the injury and has ruled Afridi out of the second Test.
Uncapped pacer Harris Rauf and bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf have been brought in as replacements for Shaheen Afridi and it would be interesting to see who among the two is selected. Pakistan having won the first Test would be looking to win the series in the second one.
Talking of the first Test, Pakistan won the match by four wickets chasing 342 runs in the second innings. A masterful 160* by Abdullah Shafique, his second century in just six matches, was the driver behind a record-breaking run chase. This was Pakistan’s second highest run chase ever in the history of cricket. It was also the highest run chase at the Galle ground.
Babar Azam had also come up with a century knock (119) in the first and a half-century (55) in the second to lead his team from the front. Sri Lanka batter Dinesh Chandimal continued his incredible recent form and hit 76 and 94* in the two innings. Thus, the second Test promises to be another exciting game.
