PAK vs AUS "Real Shocker For Me"- Waqar Younis On Shaheen Afridi Rested For The Third Test In Sydney

Shaheen Afridi made headlines heading into the third Test as he was rested for the third and final Test in Sydney. Pakistan made a few changes in the playing XI but all the talk was about the Pakistan speedster being rested from the third Test. 

Shaheen Afridi played two Tests in this series taking 8 wickets and giving away 333 runs at an average of 41.62. He bowled nearly 100 overs in the first two Tests. Ahead of the third Test, he spoke to 7 Cricket saying the team management decided to rest him and manage his workload. 

“I played two games, and a lot of overs to be honest. They’re just managing my workload, the medical team and team management decided to take a rest for this (Test)” Shaheen said to 7 Cricket.

?️ “I played two games, and a lot of overs to be honest. They’re just managing my workload, the medical team and team management decided to take a rest for this (Test).”@copes9 chats with Shaheen Afridi about the decision to not play at the SCG, and plenty more #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/VuNCaIeB1K

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 3, 2024

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captains Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis blasted Shaheen for blaming the management behind resting him in Sydney. Wasim was very specific in his response saying that was Shaheen’s decision alone to rest for this Test match as he will be leading Pakistan in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. 

The decision “had nothing to do with the management” and was “solely [Shaheen’s] decision”. Straight after this there are five T20s in New Zealand, and Shaheen’s the captain,” Wasim said on Fox Cricket. “But T20 cricket, who cares? I understand, it’s there for entertainment and it’s there for financial gain for cricket boards, for players, but cricketers should know that Test cricket is the ultimate” said Wasim Akram to Fox Cricket. 

Waqar Younis also shared his opinion on Shaheen being rested from the third Test. He said that he was equally surprised and the decision to rest Shaheen “made me laugh”.

“That’s a real shocker for me because I was expecting him to be a part of this Test match because he looked good in the previous match. He started feeling like the old Shaheen Afridi and started to swing the ball and the pace was getting better” Waqar Younis said.

Waqar Younis On Shaheen Afridi Being Rested In Sydney

“We play for Test match cricket, we don’t play for T20s or one-day cricket. If you’re missing Test match cricket purely because you’re being rested, I do not understand. That’s a real shocker for me.”

– @waqyounis99 on Shaheen not playing this Test #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/DpuHAwbBXF

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 2, 2024

Pakistan have already lost the Test series losing the first two Tests. They already had a depleted bowling attack in the absence of their regular spinners and Shaheen’s absence from the Sydney Test has all the more weakened the bowling attack.

Shaheen’s workload management has been a hot topic of discussion in Pakistan cricket. In the absence of senior bowlers, he bowled almost 100 overs in the first two Tests. He bowled almost 30 more overs than Nathan Lyon who has bowled the most overs for Australis so far in the Test series. 

Pakistan had the likes of Abar Ahmed and Noman Ali ruled out of the Test series for different reasons. They also had Khurram Shahzad picking up an injury after his Test debut in the first Test. Pakistan have added Sajid Khan in the playing XI for the third Test in place of Shaheen Afridi. Having lost the series, Pakistan are struggling in the third Test as well. 

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