Pakistan Cricket Superstar Shahid Afridi Contracts Virus

Pakistan’s well-loved former cricket skipper Shahid Afrid announced on Saturday he had tested positive for coronavirus, as the outbreak stimulates across the country.

The 40-year-old all-rounder, recognised for mounting sixes and unique celebrations after getting a wicket as a bowler, announced his sickness on Twitter.

“I’ve been feeling ill since Thursday; my body had been paining severely. I’ve been tested, and sadly I’m covid positive,” Afridi wrote. “Need prayers for a quick recovery, Inshallah (God willing),” continued Afridi, who still has a tremendous global fan base.

His 22-year Pakistan career regarded off when he scored a 37-ball hundred in only his second one-day international, against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996.

Afridi still retains the record for the most sixes in one-day internationals, hitting 351 in 398 games.

He performed in 27 tests, 398 one-day internationals and 99 T20 matches for Pakistan. The bowler got 7-12 in an ODI against West Indies in 2013 after scoring 76 off 55 balls in the same game.

The 40-year-old Afridi left international cricket in 2017 and has since performed in Twenty20 leagues around the globe. He has most lately been playing for Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League, which was discontinued in March due to the pandemic.

Since retiring from international cricket three years ago, Afridi has been engaged in philanthropy work through his foundation.

He has been contributing food donations to people in isolated regions of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces caught by the impact of the disease and the lockdown.

“I am delighted to help my people, but I am doing all precautions with mask and disinfection, so it’s a chance worth perceiving,” he said AFP last week. “These are tough circumstances on humanity throughout the globe…”

Afridi is the third Pakistan cricketer to test positive for the disease following Taufeeq Umar and Zafar Sarfaraz. Former test opener Taufeeq Umar infected with the virus in May and has made a complete recovery. A former Pakistan first-class cricketer, Zafar Sarfraz, died during the coronavirus outbreak.