PSL 2023: Shaheen Afridi tests Babar Azam in engaging nets duel ahead of tournament

Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi is back in action as he challenged his skipper Babar Azam during a nets session at the National High Performance Centre in Lahore. Both the players will be up against each other in the upcoming Pakistan Super League, which is set to start from February 13. 

The 22-year-old pacer was away from action after suffering a knee injury in the 2022 T20 World Cup final against England. Afridi went on to miss the home Test series against England and New Zealand but is now eyeing a full-fledged in the PSL, where he will be leading the defending champions Lahore Qalandars.

After that, he will also be looking to make a comeback in the national side in the five-match T20I and the five-match ODI against the Blackcaps at home, starting April 13.

Meanwhile, speaking of their meeting in the nets, Afridi bowled to Babar with his usual length run-up and got one to fly past the bat. Following that one, Shaheen hit on the inside edge of Babar's bat. 

Watch the contest between the two in a video posted by Lahore Qalandars on their social media

. @iShaheenAfridi vs @babarazam258

How excited are you for 2⃣6⃣Feb and 7⃣ March in #HBLPSL8 ?#sochnabemanahai #SabSitarayHumaray #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/1Z4VVqlk1m

— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) January 28, 2023

Meanwhile, Babar, who will be replacing Wahab Riaz as the skipper of Peshawar Zalmi in PSL, recently won the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year and the Men’s Cricketer of the Year for 2022.

The eighth edition of the tournament will have 34 matches across four venues: Karachi, Multan, Rawalpindi and Lahore. The final will be played on March 19 at at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. 

With six teams playing in a round-robin format, the top four teams will be qualified for the playoffs, while the top two teams will advance to the Qualifier. The third and fourth-ranKed sides will feature in the Eliminator. 

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