AUS vs PAK: Bazid Khan Rips Apart Pakistan Cricket Board After They Rest Shaheen Afridi For Sydney Test

Former Pakistan cricketer Bazid Khan has taken a sly dig at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistani team management for resting Shaheen Afridi for the third and final Test against Australia.

After losing the first two Tests, Pakistan have made two changes to their playing eleven that played the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Under-fire opener Imam-ul-Haq has made way for uncapped Saim Ayub while Shaheen Afridi has been rested. He has been replaced by off-spinner Sajid Khan in Pakistan’s Playing XI.

There have been concerns from several quarters over the workload of Shaheen Afridi who has not managed to deliver as per expectations in recent times. In the last 18 months, the pacer has bowled more deliveries than any other bowler. Later this month, he will be leading Pakistan in the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

Bazid Khan unimpressed with Pakistan’s decision to rest Shaheen Afridi:

Soon after the PCB announced the playing XI for the third Test, Bazid Khan took to X to criticize the decision to rest Shaheen Afridi. The former cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that while PCB was disappointed when Haris Rauf chose the Big Bash League over the ongoing Test series, they had no problem in resting their main pacer for T20Is.

“Pcb were so disappointed when Haris Rauf refused to play tests because he wanted to play to t20s instead. Now Pcb themselves rest their premier fast bowler so that he can play t20I’s ?‍♂️,” wrote Bazid Khan.

Pcb were so disappointed when Haris Rauf refused to play tests because he wanted to play to t20s instead. Now Pcb themselves rest their premier fast bowler so that he can play t20I’s ?‍♂️

— Bazid Khan (@bazidkhan81) January 2, 2024

Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Shan Masood explained the reason behind resting Shaheen Afridi for the Test. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, he said: “Personally and internally as a team, we’ve never had any sort of doubts with Shaheen. If you look at his efforts, he’s bowled the most number of overs in a while in world cricket. He’s playing every game, he gives it 150 percent.

“Even in training, you’ll never see Shaheen shying away from giving 150 percent. He’ll be running after balls and there’ll be a lot of boys shouting, ‘easy, easy, don’t hurt yourself’, because we’ve seen him do that in the past.

“Shaheen’s our main guy … he’s integral for us and it’s up to us to also make sure that we’re looking after him in the right way, and making sure that physically and mentally he’s in a good space,” he added.

The third and final Test of the series is scheduled to be played on January 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Pakistan have already conceded the series after losing the first two games and will be desperate to avoid a whitewash. They will also be looking to win their first Test on Australian soil since 1995.