PAK vs AUS: Shaheen Afridi Likely To Be Rested For 3rd Test Against Australia To Manage Workload - Reports

Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi is likely to be rested for the third and final Test in the ongoing red-ball series against Australia. The Pakistan team management decided to rest Shaheen Afridi to manage his workload with the T20 World Cup 2024 approaching.

The Shan Masood-led team lost to Australia by 360 runs in the series opener at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The visiting team also lost the services of debutant pacer Khurrum Shahzad, who suffered a serious rib cage injury, for the remainder of the three-match series.

Khurrum Shahzad made an impressive start with the ball in his first international match for Pakistan. The right-arm pacer picked up five wickets in the two innings of the match. He dismissed Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, and Marnus Labuschagne.

Shaheen Afridi had a disappointing performance in the series opener in Australia. The left-arm pacer picked up just one wicket for 96 runs in Australia’s first innings. He managed to grab one scalp in the second innings. He dismissed Usman Khawaja on both occasions.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the Pakistan team management aims to carefully manage the workload of the pace bowlers, especially with the T20 World Cup approaching in less than six months.

The report added that the decision by the team management and selectors comes in response to criticism regarding the handling of Khurrum Shahzad’s workload and concerns about Shaheen Afridi’s recent form.

“The backlash the board and management is facing over the handling of Khurrum’s workload has set off panic buttons, plus the form of Shaheen has added to the concerns of the team management and selectors,” the source said.

Shaheen Afridi Will Be Rested For The Third Test – Reports

The report further mentioned that discussions about Shaheen Afridi’s situation were held with PCB chief Zaka Ashraf. If Afridi performs poorly in the Melbourne Test and Pakistan faces defeat, there’s a possibility that he might be rested for the final Test.

“It is in the pipeline that if Shaheen doesn’t do well in the Melbourne Test and the team ends up on the losing side, he will be rested for the final Test so that he is fresh for the T20I series in New Zealand,” the source said.

Shaheen Afridi To Lead Pakistan In T20I Series Against New Zealand

The Pakistan cricket team will commence their next year’s ICC marquee tournament preparation with a five-match T20I series against New Zealand in January 2024. The team will be without the young pace sensation Naseem Shah, Ehsanullah, and Muhammad Hasnain.

The team is considering experimenting with a new opening combination in T20Is, with the possibility of Saim Ayub partnering either Babar Azam or wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. This strategic move is aimed at enhancing the team’s batting strength and flexibility.

Pakistan T20I Squad: Shaheen Afridi (c), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan.

Also read: ‘Shaheen Afridi Is Not Used To Bowling Long Spells’- Umar Gul Analyses Pakistan Pacer’s Struggles