Fast bowling star Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s first test star, suffered a bruised knee and will not compete in the second cricket test against Sri Lanka starting on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Afridi was the choice of athletes playing on either side of the First Test, which ended with four goals in the first half which Pakistan won by four at Galle.
Pakistan team officials confirmed Friday that he will not play in the second test. Afridi finished on the Test 99 wickets at the end of Sri Lanka’s first half and hoped he would complete the 100 wickets milestone on the second test which ended with injury.
Afridi, a middle distance fighter, dived in an attempt to cut the Dinesh Chandimal line on day three and was seen hobbling off the field. He was taken for scans and although there was no fracture, swelling and pain ruled him out.
Pakistan chose quick Harris Rauf or all-powerful bowler Faheem Ashraf instead.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, brought in Lakshitha Manasinghe out of underrated rotation after Maheesh Theekshana was dropped from the match. Theekshana suffered a cut on his right index finger during the first examination.
The presenters also recalled Pathum Nissanka, who tested positive for COVID-19 during the Australia series.
Although Sri Lanka did not call in a replacement ball holder, a team spokesman said that Dinesh Chandimal is set to take over the ballkeeping duties from Niroshan Dickwella.
Chandimal is in strong form with the bat – his undefeated double hundred against Australia in the second test two weeks ago, followed by 76 and 94 failed runs in the first test against Pakistan.
Pakistan chased a record 342 runs to win the First Test. It was the highest ever successful chase in Galle.
The second test was scheduled to take place in Colombo but was moved to Galle due to the volatile political situation in the capital Colombo.
