After former captain Shahid Afridi’s Claim on Thursday said that pacer Shaheen Afridi was footing the bill for his treatment in London for a knee injury out of his own pocket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally spoken about it and clarified that they will be in charge of organizing all medical care for their players.
On Friday, PCB issued a statement to provide injuries on star players– Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman. In addition to stating that the left-arm pacer is “making excellent progress in his rehabilitation,” the statement also highlighted that PCB has always made provisions for the “medical care and rehabilitation of all its players.”
“The PCB is also pleased to advise and update that Shaheen Shah Afridi is making excellent progress in his rehabilitation in London and is on track to make a full recovery in time for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022,” read the statement. “It goes without saying that the PCB has always been and will continue to be responsible for arranging medical care and rehabilitation of all its players requiring any treatment.”
Shaheen, who was ruled out of the prestigious Asia Cup 2022, is now expected to make a return to the squad for the marquee next month.
Earlier while speaking to Samaa TV, Shahid claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had done nothing to help the fast bowler with the knee injury that had kept him out of the Asia Cup and the T20I series against England. Shahid said that Shaheen had used his own money to travel to London for his rehab and accommodations while he had made arrangements for the doctor.
“When I talk about Shaheen.. that guy went to England on his own. He bought his own ticket, he spent his own money to stay in a hotel. I arranged a doctor for him, then he contacted the doctor. PCB is not doing anything, he was doing that on his own. Everything, from coordination to doctors to his hotel room and food expenses, he is paying out of his own pocket. As far as I know, Zakir Khan (Director of Cricket for international tours at the PCB) talked to him for 1-2 times, but that was it,” said Shahid.
