Shahid Afridi: “If I were to make the decision, I would bench Babar, I would bench Shaheen, and I would also bench Shadab”
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Iconic Pakistan big-hitter Shahid Afridi has admitted that he would bench batsman Babar Azam, left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi and spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan in T20Is.
He noted that the trio haven’t been performing consistently enough to warrant a spot in the team.
Azam, Shaheen and Shadab have been regulars in the format for a long period, but Shahid stressed that longevity alone should not guarantee selection when others are performing better.
“If I were to make the decision, I would bench Babar, I would bench Shaheen, and I would also bench Shadab,” he was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Pakistan recently played two Tests against Bangladesh and three ODIs against Australia, which they lost 2-0 and won 2-1.
Azam was recently reappointed as Test captain and will now lead Pakistan in their upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies, which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.
The men in green will then head to England for three Tests between August 19 and September 13.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
Pakistan Squad for England Test series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah