(Source X)
Pakistan’s pace sensation, Shaheen Afridi, has recently been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The year has not been kind to him so far, with a series of setbacks marring his career.
The year kicked off on a contentious note when Afridi faced intense criticism for his absence from the Sydney Test against Australia. This was soon followed by a disappointing debut series as Pakistan’s T20I captain, where his team endured a 4-1 defeat against New Zealand.
Afridi’s struggles continued in the Pakistan Super League, where his team, the Lahore Qalandars, only managed to secure one victory and ended up at the bottom of the table. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) responded by removing him from the T20I captaincy after just one series, reinstating Babar Azam in his place.
On the field, Afridi has failed to meet expectations lately. His performance in the T20 World Cup last month was particularly underwhelming. He could only take 2 wickets in the first three matches, and although he picked up 3 wickets in the final group game, Pakistan had already been eliminated from the tournament by then.
Shaheen Afridi breaks silence
Shaheen Afridi’s situation took a turn for the worse following allegations of a heated dispute with batting coach Mohammad Yousuf. Reports surfaced suggesting that the fast bowler had acted inappropriately towards the coach during the England tour. According to Pakistani media, the PCB was displeased with Afridi’s behavior and was contemplating disciplinary measures.
The same reports indicated that Afridi might not be selected for the upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh. In response to the growing controversy, Afridi has now addressed the situation, claiming he is unaware of the specific details. He emphasized his focus remains on playing cricket with respect and integrity, rather than being distracted by the ongoing reports.
“I don’t know if I’m being dropped from the Test series [against Bangladesh]. My role is to play cricket and I would do that with dignity,” Shaheen Afridi was quoted as saying by A Sports.
In the meantime, Afridi has faced another setback with the PCB’s recent refusal to grant him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for participation in the Global T20 Canada. He was joined in this decision by Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, who also had their NOCs denied. It will be intriguing to see how the PCB handles Afridi’s inclusion in the Test squad for the forthcoming series against Bangladesh.
