Shaheen Afridi has finally broken his silence after being left out of Pakistan’s squad for the ongoing Test series against England. Showing his support for the team, Afridi expressed hope that Shan Masood and his squad would put up a strong fight in the upcoming second Test in Multan.
Along with Shaheen Afridi, three other key players, including star batter Babar Azam, were also released from the squad for the final two matches of the series. Naseem Shah and Sarfaraz Ahmed were also among those omitted from the lineup.
“Wishing Team Pakistan the best of luck! Rooting for a strong comeback. We’re all cheering for you!” Shaheen Afridi shared on social media platform X, giving a message of encouragement to his teammates.
These changes were made by Pakistan’s newly formed selection committee, which was set up soon after Pakistan’s heavy defeat in the first Test. The team lost to England by an innings and 47 runs, which caused them to fall to the bottom of the World Test Championship standings, trailing 0-1 in the three-match series.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the decision to rest Babar, Shaheen, Naseem, and Sarfaraz was taken considering their current form and fitness levels. The PCB also emphasized the importance of keeping these players fresh for Pakistan’s upcoming international fixtures in the 2024-25 season.
Babar Azam, who had not scored a half-century in a Test match since 2022, has been struggling with form since his captaincy stint. His performance had dropped significantly, leading him to step down from the captaincy role in June after Pakistan’s exit from the T20 World Cup. Shaheen, on the other hand, has been trying to find his rhythm in Test cricket ever since he recovered from a serious knee injury.
The second Test match between Pakistan and England will be played in Multan starting on Tuesday, on the same pitch that hosted the first match of the series.
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