Shaheen Afridi Dropped from Pakistan Test Team for Second Bangladesh Test
Pakistan’s star pacer Shaheen Afridi has been omitted from the team for the second Test against Bangladesh, raising concerns about his form and effectiveness. Head coach Jason Gillespie confirmed that Afridi is “working on some things” to improve his bowling, hinting at a potential drop rather than a rest.
Afridi’s recent performances have been underwhelming, particularly in Test cricket. In Australia, he averaged over 41 in pace-friendly conditions, and in the first Test against Bangladesh, he took only two lower-order wickets for 96 runs. His pace, once consistently in the mid-140 kph range, has also declined since his injury last year.
Gillespie acknowledged that Afridi has been given feedback and is working with bowling coach Azhar Mahmood to address his technical issues. “We want to see Shaheen at his best because we’ve got a lot of cricket in all formats and Shaheen’s going to play a really big role in that,” Gillespie said.
While Afridi’s absence from the team is a significant blow, Pakistan has named a 12-man squad for the second Test, including legspinner Abrar Ahmed and fast bowler Mir Hamza. The inclusion of Abrar is likely, as Pakistan’s decision to field an all-pace attack in the first Test backfired.
Gillespie emphasized that the team’s selection is based on weather conditions in Rawalpindi, which have been unfavorable for the past three days. “We’re looking at what our best combination is this game,” Gillespie said. “We’ll look at conditions and decide what the best makeup of our bowling attack looks like.”
Pakistan must win the second Test to draw the series, after suffering their first-ever Test defeat to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. The team will be hoping to bounce back with a strong performance, but Afridi’s absence will be a major challenge.
