Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Friday assured the former star cricketer Shahid Afridi to pay all the expenses of rehabilitation and treatment in London to national fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, Shahid Afridi claimed that the PCB did not cooperate financially with Shaheen who is under treatment in London nowadays.
In a talk on a private channel, Shahid Afridi revealed that Shaheen has taken an air ticket from Dubai to London from his own pocket and is staying in the UK at his own expense.
Shahid Afridi also claimed that he personally arranged the contact Shaheen with the doctor in the UK for the treatment of his knee injury.
While the PCB sources said that Shaheen himself booked the ticket online for departure from Dubai to London as a formal logistics process could not be followed due to the shortage of time for his treatment.
On the other hand, the PCB in an official statement has said that the board has always borne the responsibility for the treatment and rehabilitation expenses of the players and will continue to bear it in future.
According to PCB sources, the PCB will reimburse Shaheen for hotel, rehab and other expenses in the UK as there is an agreement between the player and the board to travel to London for rehab and pay the expenses.
The sources said that Dr Zafar and Dr Imtiaz are part of the medical advisory panel of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Shaheen had shifted to the hotel after staying with Dr Zafar for a few days.
Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi was ruled out of the second test match of the series against Sri Lanka due to a knee injury. He could also not participate in the Asia Cup and now will not be a part of the series against England.
Reporter: Mahmood Riaz