Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi is reportedly disheartened after being omitted from the 12-player squad for the second Test against Bangladesh. He has voiced his profound disappointment over ongoing perceived injustices in the national team.
Pakistan without Shaheen for the 2nd Rawalpindi Test
Under Shan Masood’s captaincy, the team endured a crushing 10-wicket loss to Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Following his underwhelming performance, Shaheen Afridi was omitted from the squad. In the series opener, Shaheen remained wicketless until the 163rd over of Bangladesh’s first innings. He eventually claimed 2 wickets for 88 runs in 30 overs. Bangladesh amassed 565 runs, surpassing Pakistan’s first innings total of 448/6.
Shaheen Afridi Left In Shock After Being Dropped For Second Test
Shaheen Afridi has been unjustly blamed for Pakistan’s significant loss to Bangladesh in the first Test. He is the sole player dropped from the squad for the second Test of the series. Mir Hamza and Abrar Ahmed have been added to the 12-member team for the final Test. After the first Test, Shaheen was permitted to visit Karachi to see his newborn child, Aliyaar, but was recalled to Rawalpindi just two days later. Shaheen was reportedly stunned and puzzled when informed of his exclusion by the team management.
“When the team management informed him of being dropped, the young pacer was left in shock, struggling to understand why he was recalled if there were no plans to play him,” a report by cricketpakistan.com said.
The 24-year-old was sacked from the T20I captaincy before the T20 World Cup 2024. Afridi was removed from the leadership role after a single series loss to New Zealand.
The left-arm pacer was also removed from the vice-captaincy in Test matches for the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh.
Shaheen Afridi Sacrificed Lucrative League Contracts
The report further added that Shaheen Afridi had given up lucrative league contracts to focus on Test cricket.
Afridi has been significantly affected by recent events within the Pakistan national cricket team.
“According to sources, these recent events have taken a significant toll on Shaheen Afridi, who even sacrificed lucrative league contracts to remain available for Test cricket. By being dropped, he received a strong and disheartening message.”
As per the report, a member of the national team management who dislikes Shaheen was influential in his exclusion from the second Test of the series.
Shaheen was unfairly targeted despite poor performances from the entire team, which has left him visibly unhappy and disillusioned.
The Pakistan cricket team suffered their fourth consecutive Test defeat, following a 3-0 series loss to Australia.
It was their first-ever loss to Bangladesh in the longer format of the game. It is worth mentioning that Pakistan hasn’t won a home Test since the South Africa series in 2021
