BANGALORE: Star Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been laid low by fever, Pakistan media reported on Tuesday, in a worrying blow for the team ahead of a key World Cup clash with Australia.

Shaheen, who has struggled to make an impact in his team’s three matches so far at the tournament, fell ill on arrival in Bangalore.

Leg-spinner Usama Mir has also been hit by illness, according to reports.

“Some players suffered a fever in the past few days and most of them have fully recovered,” said a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman.

Left-armer Shaheen has been struggling with his pace and fitness and has been unimpressive in all three games at the World Cup where his four wickets have come at a cost of 139 runs.

Pakistan have two wins and one loss — suffered at the hands of arch-rivals India last Saturday in Ahmedabad — and next tackle Australia in Bangalore on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Pakis­tan squad practised at Chinnaswamy stadium in the evening with six of their members — Shaheen, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Mohammad Haris (reserve) and Zaman Khan (reserve) — missing.

But team official said they expect most of them to be fit for the Australia game.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2023