Why Shaheen Afridi has been dropped for 2nd PAK vs BAN Test? Jason Gillespie reveals

Left-arm Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi has been dropped from the 12-man squad for the upcoming second and final Test against Bangladesh. Pakistan's red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie has revealed the reason behind Shaheen Afridi's exclusion from the lineup for the must-win game in the series.

The Shan Masood-led team is currently trailing 0-1 in the ongoing home Test series against Bangladesh. Pakistan will face Bangladesh in the second match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium starting on Friday, August 30. The hosts will be hoping to win the match and level the series in Rawalpindi.

Shaheen Afridi Will Sit Out Of This Game - Jason Gillespie

During a press conference, Jason Gillespie said that Shaheen Afridi’s exclusion from the upcoming match is a strategic choice. Gillespie noted that Afridi understands and appreciates the reasoning behind this decision. He added that Afridi will have the opportunity to spend time with his family.

"Shaheen will sit out of this game. I had a good conversation with him, and he fully understands and appreciates the reasoning behind this decision. We're looking for the best combination for this game, and this is our direction," Gillespie said.

"As I mentioned, we will assess the conditions in the morning and decide on the exact makeup of our bowling attack. Shaheen has received some feedback, and he’s had an interesting couple of weeks—he’s a new father, he's playing all three formats, and we're seeing an opportunity to allow him to spend time with his family as well," he added.

Shaheen Afridi was one of the four frontline seamers for the series opener. However, the quartet struggled to make an impact and collectively took 9 wickets for 359 runs at an average close to 40. Afridi recorded figures of 2/88 from 30 overs as Bangladesh scored 565 runs in the first innings.

He's Been Collaborating Well With Azhar Mahmood - Jason Gillespie

Jason Gillespie said that Shaheen Afridi’s omission is due to a mix of personal and professional factors. He added that Afridi is focusing on improving his bowling with Azhar Mahmood. Gillespie emphasized that the team is well-prepared for the upcoming game without him.

"He’s working on a few aspects of his bowling to ensure he's as fit as possible. He’s been collaborating well with Azhar Mahmood, which has been fantastic," Gillespie further stated.

"We certainly want to see Shaheen at his best because we have a lot of cricket ahead in all formats, and he’s going to play a big role in that.

"However, right now, we feel that we have all our bases covered for this particular game. But, make no mistake, Shaheen is a quality player and will play a significant role in the next 6-7 months," he concluded.

Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Ali retained their places in the 12-member squad. Mir Hamza and frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed have been recalled to the squad.

The Pakistan team management will finalize the playing XI before the start of the upcoming Test in Rawalpindi.

Shaheen Afridi has appeared in only six Tests since July 2022 due to a knee injury. The left-arm pacer was rested for the final Test against Australia in January. Abrar Ahmed has taken 38 wickets from six Test matches in his brief international cricketing career.

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