Experienced Pakistan left-arm pace bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi will return home from Australia later on Wednesday with doubts over his availability for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka early next year. Shaheen has been called by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for treat-ment and rehabilitation at the High Performance Centre in Lahore after he sustained a knee injury while fielding for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League (BBL).

Shaheen, who has struggled in his maiden appearance in the BBL, had spent a long time out from cricket in 2021-22 after undergoing a knee sur-gery following an injury while fielding in a Test in Sri Lanka.

A PCB official said that Shaheen had been called back after discussions with Cricket Australia (CA) as the initial feedback was that he required complete rest and time to recover from the injury. He said that the seriousness of the injury and the potential timeline for re-covery will be determined after his meeting with the board’s doctors.

Shaheen expressed disappointment on social media at leaving the tourna-ment prematurely.