(AFP Photo)
Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s leading pace bowler, has emphasized his unwavering commitment to the national team, asserting that he will never allow negativity to impact his representation of the Men in Green.
Afridi last played during the T20 World Cup 2024, held in the West Indies and the USA, where Pakistan’s campaign ended prematurely with a surprising loss to the USA in their opening group-stage match, preventing them from advancing to the Super 8s.
During the tournament, Afridi claimed five wickets at an average of 21.00 and an economy rate of 6.56. His standout performance came in the final group-stage game against Ireland, where he took three wickets for 22 runs.
Afridi’s participation in the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh later this month remains uncertain.
All My Teammates Are My Good Friends – Shaheen Afridi
Shaheen Afridi underscored his dedication to Pakistan, affirming that he views all his teammates as close friends. He reiterated his commitment to battling for the Pakistan cricket team and stressed that he would never introduce negativity into the team’s environment.
“All my teammates are my good friends. I will always fight for my country because I came through the right pathway. Pakistan always comes first for me; I would never bring negativity into the team,” said Afridi, as quoted by Farid Khan on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Shaheen Afridi was named Pakistan’s T20I captain following Babar Azam’s resignation from leadership roles after Pakistan’s early exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup. Afridi captained the team during a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, where Pakistan faced a 4-1 defeat to the Blackcaps earlier this year.
Following this series, Afridi was removed from the captaincy, with Babar Azam being reinstated as the leader of Pakistan’s white-ball teams in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup 2024.
Pakistan Cricket Board To Take Action Against Shaheen Afridi?
Shaheen Afridi reportedly had a tense confrontation with batting coach Mohammad Yousuf during Pakistan’s tour of England and Ireland earlier this year. Additionally, Afridi faced criticism for his perceived lack of cooperation during the 2024 T20 World Cup, including claims that he refused to attend team meetings.
There were speculations that Afridi might face disciplinary action and be omitted from the Test series against Bangladesh. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has denied these reports, stating that no disciplinary committee has been established and describing such claims as false.
The first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh is scheduled to begin at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on August 21. The second Test will take place at the National Stadium in Karachi from August 30 to September 3. This series is part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.
