Former Pakistan National Cricket Team player Shoaib Akhtar talked about the omission of Shaheen Afridi from the team for the Test series against the South Africa National Cricket Team. He said that he would’ve cancelled the central contract of the pacer if he had workload issues.
Pakistan National Cricket Team recently announced the squad for the South Africa tour. The teams will be playing against each other in the three-match T20I series followed by the three-match ODI series. The tour will conclude with the two-match Test series, starting 10th December.
Pakistan National Cricket Team didn’t name Shaheen Afridi in the Test squad for the South Africa series
What caught the attention of many was Pakistan National Cricket Team didn’t name Afridi in the Test squad. The premier pacer has been picked in the white-ball tour but was rested by the team management in the longest format of the game.
The press release from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) claimed that Shaheen Afridi was rested due to the workload management. They claimed that they want the fast bowler to be at his best for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The statement read:
“Shaheen Shah Afridi, who also missed the last two Tests against England, has been picked for the white-ball matches as part of his workload management so that he is in his best fitness and form for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.”
Several reports claimed that Shaheen Afridi has been dropped from the Tests
Afridi hasn’t been at his best in the Tests since the last few months. He was dropped from the team for the last two Tests against the England National Cricket Team along with Babar Azam and Naseem Shah. While the latter two were recalled, Afridi wasn’t picked and it didn’t go well with many.
Several reports have claimed that Afridi has been dropped from the team and the PCB is trying to cover it while citing workload management. The expert panel of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Hafeez discussed about the same.
I would’ve been very straight and would’ve told him that he has to bowl 150 overs – Shoaib Akhtar on Shaheen Afridi
Shoaib Akhtar mentioned that Shaheen Afridi is the team’s main pacer. He said that had he been at PCB, he would’ve straightaway told the fast bowler that he had to bowl 150 overs, and if the speedster had said no, he would’ve cancelled his contract.
“Practically, Shaheen Afridi is my top fast bowler. I would’ve been very straight and would’ve told him that he has to bowl 150 overs. I would have cancelled his central contract (if he couldn’t bowl). If he is dropped, then there needs to be a proper conversation, and he should be asked if he wants to play or not.”
Main tou CC cancel kardeta main tou na chorta: Shoaib Akhtar
VC : PTV SPORTS pic.twitter.com/Yj3tu47AeM
— صالح (@iiisaleh97) December 5, 2024
Since returning from a knee injury he picked up during a Test in Sri Lanka in July 2022, Afridi has played just a handful of Tests. He hasn’t been at his best since then as he has bagged 17 wickets at an average of 45.47. It remains to be seen if he returns for the home Test series against West Indies in January.
Also read: “We heard firing sounds” – Basit Ali reveals shocking experiences during Pakistan tour of India 2016