Shahid Afridi, who still plays Twenty20 cricket at the age of 40, revealed he has been feeling unwell since Thursday.The all-rounder has since tested positive for COVID-19 and requested prayers for his speed recovery.
He tweeted on Saturday: “I’ve been feeling unwell since Thursday; my body had been aching badly.
Shahid Afridi has been helping with coronavirus relief efforts in his homeland, where 2,551 have died after contracting the virus.
“We had to keep safety in mind. But people needed that help. This country has given me everything, so it is my duty that I help the people in the times of crisis. The campaign is going on really well and my friends are also backing me to the hilt,” he added.
The leg-spinner had been touring the country while providing relief to Pakistanis in the countryside. In the course of his relief work, Shahid Afridi had created a lot of controversies.
Shahid Afridi had made a hate speech against the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi which had brought on the wrath of Indian cricket players like Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and Gautam Gambhir, who had lambasted the Pakistani cricketer left, right and centre.
ALSO READ: Yes I spoke to Wahab, he will be available to play the Test matches in England: Mishab-ul-Haq
Shahid Afridi had also visited Balochistan recently to provide COVID-19 relief and stoked a similar controversy there by claiming that he will build cricket academies in the region. The natives of Baloch had protested against it as Pakistan state is unpopular in the region and opposed for its perceived dictatorial reign in the province.
The former all-rounder had recently been busy with his charitable foundation as the country grapples with the spread of the coronavirus.
The cricketer had offered to work for brands, not for money or personal interest, but for exchange of ration and funds that can be utilised to help the disadvantaged during the pandemic.
“I have been lucky to have worked with many brands for ads/promotion. Now working first hand with the ones suffering during COVID-19, I have a proposal to all brands: I will work with brands for free personally – I just want ration and funds in return,” he had tweeted.