Allrounder says he has been coping with the condition for the last 15-16 years
Chronic back pain has forced Shahid Afridi to end his Pakistan Super League season early. The 41-year old allrounder, who has been in rehab, said he only chose to take the field this year “for the fans” but the pain had become too much to bear.
Sunday night’s game for Quetta Gladiators, his fourth franchise in seven years, was effectively Afridi’s last game in the PSL.
“I was trying to sign off on a good note because my lower back injury has been chronic for 15-16 years and I have been playing with it,” Afridi said. “But now it has grown too much that it has affected my groin, my knee and it goes down to extreme pain in my toes. I tried to cope with it but lost my tolerance with the pain. After all, when you have good health, you have the world with you.”
More to follow
Umar Farooq is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent