FILE – Shaheen Afridi has been named the skipper as Pakistan announce squad for New Zealand T20I series. (Photo: X)
New Delhi: Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will most likely be rested for the third and final Test match against Australia in Sydney, it has been announced. According to reports, this decision is being take to manage his workload after the backlash faced by the PCB after Khurrum Shahzad suffered a serious rib cage injury. The Men in Green lost the opening Test match at Perth by 360 runs.
Debutant Shahzad taking five wickets but he also got injured in the process and was ruled out of the Melbourne (December 26) and Sydney (January 3) Tests. The pacer spearhead claimed just two wickets in Perth and if the visitors lose the Boxing Day Test, he will surely be rested for the final game so that to keep him fresh for the upcoming series against New Zealand.
“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.
A source close to the PCB said that the team management has decided to work on the workload of the pacers especially for the big T20 World Cup 2024. The showpiece event is scheduled to start in June next year and before that, Pakistan have to play the Kiwis as well. The team management and the officials concerned had discussed Afridi’s case with the selectors of the PCB and the chief Zaka Ashraf. So, on the back of the all the suggestions received, this decision will be taken.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is more concerned about the fast bowler as he is one of the most important assets the team has. Be it in the white ball format or the longest format, Afridi has proved his masterclass almost every time.
