Aaqib Javed: “Shaheen Shah Afridi’s exclusion from the Test squad is a strategic decision to ensure he remains physically and mentally fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Interim Pakistan red-ball head coach Aaqib Javed said the decision to exclude Shaheen Shah Afridi for the two-Test series against South Africa was necessary as he wants the left-arm seamer fully fit for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will take place from February to March.
Aaqib called the move a “strategic decision” as he knows Afridi will play an important role in Pakistan’s bid to win the Champions Trophy.
The 24-year-old suffered back-to-back knee injuries in 2022 and since then, he hasn’t been able to have the same kind of impact with the ball. Additionally, many people have noticed that his bowling speed has decreased as well.
Despite all this, Aaqib stressed that Afridi is an important asset to the men in green and him missing the South Africa Test series was a move that had to be made with the Champions Trophy in mind.
“Shaheen Shah Afridi’s exclusion from the Test squad is a strategic decision to ensure he remains physically and mentally fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” he was quoted as saying in a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) press release.
While Afridi won’t feature in the two Tests against the Proteas, he did take part in the three-match T20I series, where he claimed three wickets in two games at an average of 19.66.
As for the ODI series, he finished with seven wickets in three matches at an average of 23.28.
The two-Test series between Pakistan and South Africa will start on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
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