Shahid Afridi breaks silence on Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah being dropped from Pakistan

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi reacted to star batter Babar Azam and fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah being dropped for the England Tests.

Shahid Afridi backed the men's team selectors to give Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah a rest amid their current poor form.

After suffering a humiliating 0-2 loss to Bangladesh at home, the Shan Masood-led side suffered an innings and 47-run loss in the first Test of the three-match series against England in Multan.

The selectors and team management made massive changes to their side for the remaining two Test matches.

Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Abrar Ahmed have not been included in the squad for the second and third Tests.

The selectors included Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Ali, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Zahid Mehmood in the squad.

Great Opportunity To Test And Groom Emerging Talent - Shahid Afridi

Aqib Javed, a senior member of the selection committee, stated that Babar, Shaheen, Naseem, and Sarfaraz were rested to help them regain their fitness and confidence.

However, this decision received mixed reactions from fans and cricket experts as it was made during an important home series.

Shahid Afridi took to social media to support the selectors' decision to rest Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah.

The former all-rounder highlighted that it gives a great opportunity to test and groom emerging talent, building strong bench strength for the future.

"Supporting the selectors’ decision to give Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem a break from international cricket. This move not only helps protect and extend the careers of these champion players but also gives a great opportunity to test and groom emerging talent, building strong bench strength for the future," Shahid Afridi said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Supporting the selectors’ decision to give Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem a break from international cricket. This move not only helps protect and extend the careers of these champion players but also gives a great opportunity to test and groom emerging talent, building strong bench…

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) October 14, 2024

Babar Azam Has Failed To Score A Half-Century In Last 18 Test Innings

Babar Azam has been under scrutiny due to a series of poor performances. Babar was ranked among the top five ICC Test batsmen, but his form has dropped significantly.

He scored 30 and 5 in the first Test against England. The 29-year-old has failed to score a half-century in his last 18 Test innings.

Naseem and Shaheen bowled 57 overs combined and conceded 277 runs for just three wickets in Multan.

The two pacers were also dropped for the second Test against Bangladesh. Abrar Ahmed was hospitalized during the match, while Sarfaraz Ahmed last featured in a Test in December 2023.

Has Been A Challenging Task For The Selectors - Aaqib Javed

Aaqib Javed said that the break from international cricket will benefit players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. Javed said that they need to assess player performance, especially with a demanding international schedule.

"Selecting the squad for the upcoming Tests against England has been a challenging task for the selectors. We’ve had to carefully consider current player form, the urgency to bounce back in the series and Pakistan’s demanding 2024-25 international schedule. We are confident that this break from international cricket will help these players regain their fitness, confidence, and composure, ensuring they return in top shape for future challenges," Aaqib Javed stated, as quoted by PCB.co.pk.

Also read: PCB announces new selection committee with a shocking inclusion after embarrassing defeat in Multan