NEW DELHI: Pakistan's T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has voiced hope that Shaheen Shah Afridi will make a full recovery from his knee injury in time for next month's T20 World Cup.

Afridi, a linchpin of Pakistan's pace attack, could prove vital to the team's prospects in the tournament, which is set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

"We are hopeful he will be fit for the World Cup but the final decision will come from the (Pakistan Cricket) Board on advice from the medical panel," Salman told the media in Dambulla where Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in the first T20I on Wednesday.

Afridi is currently undergoing rehabilitation under the supervision of the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) medical panel at the High Performance Centre in Lahore.

On Wednesday, the PCB shared a video of the fast bowler carrying out his recovery routine, but did not disclose details about the severity of the injury or the expected timeline for his return to full fitness.

He sustained a knee injury while fielding in a recent Big Bash League match in Australia. Following the incident, his BBL team, Brisbane Heat, released him, and the PCB called him back to Pakistan for treatment and rehabilitation.

This is not Afridi's first knee setback. He previously suffered a similar injury in 2021 while fielding during a Test in Galle, which sidelined him for several months.

Salman also said that Pakistan had managed to prepare a balanced and strong side for the World Cup and the series in Sri Lanka would help his players acclimatise to the weather and ground conditions in the country.

Pakistan will play all their World Cup matches in Sri Lanka.

"This series will help the players a lot for the World Cup, especially those who haven't played that much cricket in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan have included only one uncapped player, Khawaja Nafay, in their squad for the three-match series against Sri Lanka.

The big news is the return of experienced all-rounder, Shadab Khan to the national side after remaining out of the national side for eight months due to a shoulder surgery.

The national selectors recalled Shadab after he displayed good form in the Big Bash League in December.

(With PTI Inputs)