Shaheen Afridi releases a statement after being dropped from Pakistan team

Pakistan left-arm pace bowler Shaheen Afridi is reportedly heartbroken after being left out of the 12-member squad for the second and final Test match against Bangladesh.

Shaheen Afridi has expressed deep sadness over continuous unfair treatment within the Pakistan national cricket team.

Pakistan without Shaheen for the 2nd Rawalpindi Test

The Shan Masood-led team suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat against Bangladesh in the first Test match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The team management dropped Shaheen from the lineup after his disappointing outing with the ball during the series opener against Bangladesh.

The left-arm speedster went wicketless until the 163rd over of Bangladesh's first innings during the match. A

fridi dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud, registering figures of 30-3-88-2. The visiting team scored 565 runs in response to Pakistan's first innings total of 448/6.

Shaheen Afridi Left In Shock After Being Dropped For Second Test

Shaheen Afridi has been unfairly blamed for Pakistan's heavy loss to Bangladesh in the first Test match.

The fast bowler is the only player dropped from the squad for the second Test of the ongoing series. Mir Hamza and Abrar Ahmed were included in the 12-member squad for the final Test match.

Shaheen was allowed to visit Karachi to see his newborn child, Aliyaar, after the first Test.

However, he was called back to Rawalpindi just two days later. The report added that Shaheen was shocked and confused when the team management informed him he was being dropped from the squad.

"When the team management informed him of being dropped, the young pacer was left in shock, struggling to understand why he was recalled if there were no plans to play him," a report by cricketpakistan.com said.

The 24-year-old was sacked from the T20I captaincy before the T20 World Cup 2024. Afridi was removed from the leadership role after a single series loss to New Zealand.

The left-arm pacer was also removed from the vice-captaincy in Test matches for the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh.

Shaheen Afridi Sacrificed Lucrative League Contracts

The report further added that Shaheen Afridi had given up lucrative league contracts to focus on Test cricket.

Afridi has been significantly affected by recent events within the Pakistan national cricket team.

"According to sources, these recent events have taken a significant toll on Shaheen Afridi, who even sacrificed lucrative league contracts to remain available for Test cricket. By being dropped, he received a strong and disheartening message."

As per the report, a member of the national team management who dislikes Shaheen was influential in his exclusion from the second Test of the series.

Shaheen was unfairly targeted despite poor performances from the entire team, which has left him visibly unhappy and disillusioned.

The Pakistan cricket team suffered their fourth consecutive Test defeat, following a 3-0 series loss to Australia.

It was their first-ever loss to Bangladesh in the longer format of the game. It is worth mentioning that Pakistan hasn't won a home Test since the South Africa series in 2021.

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