Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi and his cricket governing body are currently at odds considering recent events. Afridi has been on the receiving end of seemingly unfair decisions in recent months, and it doesn’t look like it’s ending anytime soon.
The rift between Afridi and Pakistan’s cricket board continues to widen with no clear solution in sight. Some sources claim Afrid’s current rift with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could see him dropped from internationals.
Shaheen Afridi Left Out of Pakistan Second Test Squad
The PCB decided to leave Afridi out of their next Test series vs Bangladesh. Their decision was made public via an official statement which reads:
“The team management has decided to release Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Test squad to allow him to spend time with his family. Shaheen, who featured in the first Test against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 20 to 25 August, is not part of the 12-member squad announced on Thursday for the second Test match.”
Afridi’s wife gave birth recently, and the development saw Pakistan’s star pacer leave their Test camp to visit his family. His return was met with the news of his exclusion from Pakistan’s second Test squad. Reports claim that Shaheen did not take the decision well and was clearly disillusioned by the PCB’s verdict.
Jason Gillespie Speaks on Afridi’s Exclusion from Pakistan Test Squad
Pakistan’s red-ball coach Jason Gillespie had this to say about Afridi’s exclusion from their second Test team:
“Shaheen will sit out of this game. I had a good conversation with him, and he fully understands and appreciates the reasoning behind this decision. We’re looking for the best combination for this game, and this is our direction,” Gillespie said.
The coach also commented on Shaheen’s potential fitness trouble and claims the cricketer is working to return as a better player:
“He’s working on a few aspects of his bowling to ensure he’s as fit as possible. He’s been collaborating well, which has been fantastic. We certainly want to see Shaheen at his best because we have a lot of cricket ahead in all formats, and he’s going to play a big role in that.”
Gillespie also dismissed rumours that Shaheen Afridi will be out of Pakistan’s team for the foreseeable future:
“… make no mistake, Shaheen is a quality player and will play a significant role in the next 6-7 months.”
What Could be Affecting Shaheen Afridi’s Performance?
Removal as T20 captain
Fans expressed joy when Shaheen Afridi became Pakistan’s T20I captain after the 2023 ODI World Cup. Babar Azam resigned from the role after a poor run of results saw Pakistan crash out from the 50-over championship. Commentators and fans had high hopes for Afridi as the new captain, but it was not to be.
Shaheen Afridi’s first series (vs New Zealand) as captain saw the Men in Green suffer an embarrassing 4–1 defeat. The loss will prompt loud conversations about Afridi’s suitability to the skipper’s role.
Shortly after that loss, Afridi left his position as skipper due to intense pressure from the PCB. Many sets of fans believed the decision was hurried and unfair to Afridi, and they have
Obvious singling out for criticism
Pakistan didn’t perform well during their previous round of Test matches vs Bangladesh, but Afridi got more criticism than other players. Recent developments suggest that the cricketer may be at odds with PCB officials who want him out of the squad. Many players didn’t perform as they should have against Bangladesh, but only Afridi got left out of the second Test.
Fans and some commentators believe Shaheen has been at the receiving end of unfair treatment since his removal as captain.
Poor run of form
Pakistan’s on-field performance has been subpar for several years, prompting fans to criticize the ability of squad players. Poor performances at recent events like the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Asia Cup, and other tournaments have not helped the morale of Men in Green players.
Cricketers like Shaheen Afridi usually get more criticism for their performances over regular squad players.
Unstable PCB policies
The PCB has not been consistent in retaining key management staff, coaches, and players in recent months. Repeat changes to the coaching staff, skippers, and admin staff doesn’t encourage commitment from squad players.
The current ‘change is constant’ approach by PCB officials began after its new chair Mohsin Naqvi took over affairs. Naqvi’s current willingness to swap players, remove captains, and fire support staff has nit produced any results so far.
