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The KKR all-rounder also noted that Gautam Gambhir distinguishes himself through his experience with various coaches, as he has a keen sense of when to challenge a player and when to offer support and understanding.
“I never think about captaincy of Pakistan and only want to play for Pakistan with respect,” said Shaheen as quoted by Geo News Journalist Arfa Feroz Zake.
Pakistan is about to begin a demanding Test season, starting with a series against Bangladesh on July 21. Their schedule includes a two-Test series against Bangladesh, followed by three Tests against England, and then two-Test series against both South Africa and the West Indies.
Shaheen Afridi, who has been extensively involved in white-ball cricket recently, might miss the two-Test series against Bangladesh. This potential issue was highlighted by Pakistan’s Test coach, Jason Gillespie, during a recent conversation with local reporters. Gillespie pointed out the importance of closely managing the workloads of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah due to their commitments across multiple formats.
Shaheen Afridi May Miss Bangladesh Test Series
Gillespie also noted that Shaheen might miss the series against Bangladesh due to his personal circumstances, as he and his wife are anticipating the arrival of their first child.
“Shaheen can miss Bangaladesh Test matches due to childbirth. We can give him [some] rest if he wants to stay with his wife till then,” he said.
Reviewing Pakistan’s World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 campaign so far, they secured a two-match Test series victory against Sri Lanka in July 2023. However, they suffered a series defeat to Australia under Shan Masood’s captaincy at the beginning of 2024, with Afridi also featuring in that series.
To date, Pakistan has played five Test matches in the campaign, registering two wins and three losses. With upcoming matches against formidable opponents like England, South Africa, and the West Indies, the team faces a challenging road ahead. To reach the final of this WTC edition, they will need to secure victories against top-tier teams. Pakistan had finished fifth in the previous two WTC editions as well.
Currently, Pakistan cricket requires impactful players who can drive match-winning performances, and Shaheen Afridi stands out as one such key player capable of leading the team to significant future successes.
