Pakistan have sacrificed their fast bowling spearhead Shaheen Afridi in a bid to salvage a draw in their home Test series against Bangladesh. Pakistan were roundly criticized for their decision to field four fast bowlers on a dry pitch in Rawalpindi for the first Test, which they stunningly lost by 10 wickets. It was the first time ever that Pakistan had lost to Bangladesh in a Test match at home. It was also the first time Bangladesh managed to beat any team by 10 wickets in a Test match, home or away.
Shaheen Afridi was excluded from the squad for the second Test match against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi on August 30, as he was replaced by specialist wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed.
While Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie had issued a statement during the press conference that Shaheen’s exclusion was a strategic decision to rest him, the dipping form of Shaheen Afridi with a plethora of tests in the WTC cycle yet to come, Pakistan too look to improve on Shaheen Afridi’s pace and rhythm.
Shaheen Afridi’s struggle with form for Pakistan
Shaheen Afridi, the spearhead of Pakistan’s pace attack, has been left out of the 12-man shortlist for the second Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. The left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi, who had returned figures of 2 for 96 in the first Test which Pakistan lost by 10 wickets in Islamabad, had left the squad to be with his family for the birth of his child. However, he had rejoined the squad on Thursday evening for the second Test.
Shaheen Afridi’s form over the last year has been a cause of concern for Pakistan. Last year he had picked 14 wickets in four Tests at an average of nearly 40. While many of the home Tests in the last couple of years for Pakistan have come in unhelpful conditions, Shaheen Afridi was not able to make a mark even in Australia. His performances in ODIs and T20Is were significantly better, there was a marked difference from his showing in the preceding years.
Shaheen Afridi has played just six Tests since July 2022, owing to a knee injury. He was rested for the final Test against Australia at Sydney in January this year.
Shaheen Afridi’s form, particularly in Test cricket, has been a concern for Pakistan for nearly a year now. He averaged over 41 in pace-friendly conditions in Australia, and took two lower-order wickets for 96 in a forgettable showing in the first Test against Bangladesh. His pace, routinely in the mid-140 kph range earlier in his career, has also dipped since his most recent injury last year. While Afridi has attempted to downplay those concerns, his performances with ball have not followed.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali termed this absence of Shaheen Afridi as the first surgery performed by Team Pakistan post its lackluster performance.
Basit Ali shares Pakistan dropping Shaheen Afridi for 2nd Test against Bangladesh as a positive move
Basit Ali believes that the Pakistani team management has finally taken a strong step by leaving out pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi. The pacer has been removed from their lineup for the second Test of their ongoing home series against Bangladesh. He used the term ‘surgery’ to describe the move.
Mohsin Naqvi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, had remarked that a big surgery is on the cards for the country’s cricket team. He said this following Pakistan’s loss to India at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
With Afridi being dropped, Basit suggested that the first major surgery has been completed. In his latest YouTube video, the cricketer-turned-expert said :
“The first surgery has been done, with Shaheen Afridi being dropped. Removing Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq was a minor surgery. However, this is a major surgery.”
Basit also opined that Afridi wasn’t dropped for removing skipper Shan Masood’s arm from his shoulder during the Test series opener against Bangladesh. He added :
“People have been speculating that Shaheen Afridi was dropped because he removed Shan Masood’s hand from his shoulder. However, that’s not the reason.”
A video surfaced on social media during the first Test of the series between Pakistan and Bangladesh, where Shaheen Afridi was removing Masood’s hand from his shoulder. The clip went viral, leading to many fans speculating that all might now be well in the Pakistani dressing room.
Basit Ali on Pakistan dropping Shaheen Afridi
In the aforementioned video, Basit Ali mentioned that Pakistan dropping Shaheen Afridi from the playing XI is a wake-up call for skipper Shan Masood as well.
He reckoned that Masood would lose the team’s captaincy if the Men in Green failed to win the second and final Test of the ongoing series against Bangladesh. The 53-year-old remarked (6:48):
“Shaheen Afridi’s case will be a wake-up call for the Pakistani players. It is also a wake-up call for Shan Masood as well. Shan Masood won’t remain the captain if Pakistan fail to level the series. The media and the fans won’t keep quiet if you lose a series against Bangladesh.”
Pakistan suffered an embarrassing 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the Test series opener. With the loss, Masood became the first Pakistani captain to start his career with four consecutive losses. The second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from Friday, August 30.