Junaid Khan: “Both Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have come back from injuries when not fully ready”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan left-arm seamer Junaid Khan said fast-bowling duo Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah returned from injury before they were ready to make their comebacks.
Afridi, who currently captains Pakistan in ODIs, suffered back-to-back knee injuries in 2022 but has struggled to recapture his best form since returning.
Naseem has also endured a series of injuries, including one sustained during the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL), when he hurt his left knee while fielding.
Junaid said both bowlers have been unable to perform at their best because they were not given enough time to recover fully.
“Both Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have come back from injuries when not fully ready,” he was quoted as saying by respected journalist Saj Sadiq on X.
Both Afridi and Naseem did not feature in Pakistan’s recent two-Test series against the West Indies, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
They also aren’t part of the team for the ongoing three-Test series against England, where Pakistan trail 1-0 after getting battered by an innings and 103 runs in the 1st Test in Leeds.
The 2nd Test will begin on August 27 at Lord’s.
Pakistan Squad for England Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah