‘I’ve been feeling unwell since Thursday, my body had been aching badly’: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi tests positive for coronavirus
- All-rounder Shahid Afridi retired from international cricket in February 2017
- Afridi has been helping the relief effort in Pakistan during the current pandemic
- But he has revealed he has tested positive after feeling unwell since Thursday
- Afridi is the third Pakistani cricketer to have contracted the virus in the outbreak
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has announced he has tested positive for coronavirus.
The 40-year-old all-rounder retired from international cricket in February 2017 and has been playing in Twenty20 leagues around the world ever since.
But Afridi, who has been helping the relief effort in his home country during the pandemic, tweeted on Saturday that he had been feeling unwell since Thursday with body aches and has since tested positive.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has revealed he has tested positive for coronavirus
The 40-year-old all-rounder retired from playing international cricket in February 2017
‘I’ve been feeling unwell since Thursday; my body had been aching badly,’ he wrote on Twitter.
‘I’ve been tested and unfortunately I’m covid positive. Need prayers for a speedy recovery, InshaAllah.’
Afridi is the third Pakistani cricketer to test positive for the virus following Taufeeq Umar and Zafar Sarfaraz.
Former Test opener Umar contracted the virus in May and has since fully recovered, but former Pakistan first-class cricketer Sarfraz died as a result of contracting Covid-19.
Afridi had most recently been playing in the Pakistan Super League for Multan Sultans
Power hitter Afridi had most recently been playing for Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League, which was suspended in March due to the outbreak of the pandemic.
In his international career, he won the Twenty20 World Cup in 2009 following a man-of-the-match performance against Sri Lanka in the final at Lord’s, where he hit the winning runs.
He played 27 Tests for Pakistan before retiring from the format in 2010 as well as 398 one-day internationals before bidding farewell to the 50-over format following his side’s exit from the 2015 World Cup.
Afridi also fell just short of making 100 T20 international appearances for Pakistan, having retired in 2017 with 99 20-over matches to his name.
Afridi helped Pakistan win the 2009 T20 World Cup following a great performance in the final