Pakistan star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has firmly dismissed concerns raised by white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten regarding his heavy workload. Kirsten recently expressed concerns about Afridi's workload, especially pointing out that the left-arm pacer has bowled significantly more overs than any other fast bowler in the world over the last 18 months. The coach believes this could lead to potential injuries if not managed carefully.

"Shaheen has bowled three times more overs than any other fast bowler in the world over the last 18 months. That's alarming—you're bound to wear him down eventually," Kirsten commented while providing commentary at a Champions One-Day Cup match. He also noted that both Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah have carried Pakistan's bowling attack across all formats, making them more susceptible to fatigue.

However, Shaheen Afridi brushed aside these concerns, citing legendary Pakistan fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis as examples of players who handled intense workloads without any issues. Speaking to Samaa TV, Shaheen remarked, "First of all, if you are saying that I have bowled the most in the world (among bowlers in Test cricket)… but if you look in the past, all our legends bowlers Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, at that time there was no workload issue."

Afridi questioned why workload management has become such a major topic in recent years, emphasizing the importance of mental and physical fitness. "I don’t know why we have made it a big topic over the last one year that there is workload, players are getting injured. We are considering it more meaningful. It depends individually on the players, how they play in particular formats. You need to be mentally fit and strong on how to react in different circumstances."

For Shaheen, the key to maintaining high performance is mental resilience. He highlighted that even during tough phases, it's crucial to stay positive and receive support from team management and close ones. "I don’t know about the workload, it isn’t that much, but I feel that everyone should enjoy it regardless of the format," he added.

Afridi, currently playing in the Champions One-Day Cup, has already claimed nine wickets from four matches at an average of 29.33 and an economy rate of 6.62. However, he recently suffered a knee injury during the tournament, raising doubts about his participation in Pakistan’s upcoming three-match Test series against England, starting October 7. As a precaution, the PCB has instructed key players, including Afridi, to withdraw from the tournament to focus on the red-ball series.

Despite Kirsten's concerns, Shaheen Afridi remains confident in his ability to manage his workload, continuing to draw inspiration from the legendary figures of Pakistan cricket.