Cricket fans were left puzzled when Pakistan announced their squad for the second Test against Bangladesh, with star bowler Shaheen Afridi noticeably absent from the lineup. The decision to drop Shaheen from the match in Rawalpindi has raised eyebrows, especially given the reasons provided by the team’s head coach, Jason Gillespie.
The Reason Behind Shaheen Afridi’s Exclusion
Jason Gillespie, the head coach of Pakistan’s Test team, revealed that the decision to drop Shaheen Afridi was made after a detailed discussion with the player. Gillespie stated, “Shaheen Afridi will not be playing in the second Test match. We’ve had a constructive conversation, and Shaheen understands the reasons behind this decision. We’ve provided him with some feedback, and he is currently working on sharpening his bowling skills.” This indicates that there were some technical issues in Shaheen’s performance that both the player and coach recognized and agreed needed improvement.
Shaheen Afridi’s Recent Struggles
Shaheen Afridi’s recent performance has been underwhelming. In the first Test against Bangladesh, Shaheen managed to take only two wickets, conceding 88 runs. His wickets came when Bangladesh had already established a strong position in the match, leading to Pakistan’s eventual defeat by 10 wickets. This lackluster performance wasn’t an isolated incident, as Shaheen has struggled in recent ODIs and T20s as well.
Tensions on the Field: Shaheen Afridi and Shan Masood
Adding to the speculation about Shaheen’s omission is a viral video from the first Test that shows a tense moment between Shaheen Afridi and team captain Shan Masood. In the video, during a team huddle, Shan Masood is seen touching Shaheen’s shoulder, but Shaheen noticeably brushes off the captain’s hand. This incident sparked rumors of a rift between the two players, though it’s unclear if this played any role in Shaheen’s exclusion from the second Test.
Shaheen Afridi’s absence from the upcoming Test has sparked discussions among fans and analysts, with many eager to see how the young bowler responds to this setback and works on refining his skills.