"Mujhay kiyon nikala?": Will dropping Shaheen Shah Afridi for the 2nd Test vs Bangladesh pay dividends in the long run?

[MenInG]

Lot of us wanted it but were we expecting him to be "rested"? I wasn't as Shaheen along with BA have mostly been undroppable in the past, so I am mildly shocked/amazed at the courage of this move.

Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie, during a press conference when he was asked about Shaheen Shah Afridi being rested:

"Shaheen Shah Afridi has missed out on this game, and we had a good conversation with him. He understands and appreciates our thinking. We are looking at the best combination for this game, and this is the way we want to go. We will assess the conditions in the morning and decide the exact lineup of bowlers. Shaheen Shah Afridi has received feedback and is working on his bowling with Azhar Mahmood. We want to see him at his best and believe he can play a big role in the next six months."

Whether it was Jason Gillespie or Shan himself, the move is interesting and could well be a warning to others as well.

How this pans out, as in does SSA take this as an opportunity to improve or gets offended is something only time will tell but seems that the gloves are off as far as Pakistan management are concerned.

Could this well be the first incision in the surgery we have been promised?

 

[BouncerGuy]

Ahmad Shazad speaking on social media:

“You lost to Zimbabwe; you lost to Ireland; you lost to the USA; you lost to India; now you lost to Bangladesh. Is Shaheen Afridi only responsible for all of this?”

“Shaheen Afridi isn't solely responsible for all of this. So, let's also bring into this discussion, all those people who were involved in all of this.

It is wrong to blame Shaheen Afridi for all of this. Yes, his performances are weak, his attitude is problematic, you dropped him, that’s a good thing. But what about the rest of the people involved in all of this? What about performances from the rest of them?”

“What about Abdullah Shafique’s performance in the last 8 Test matches? What about Saim Ayub’s performance after 25 matches? What about Babar Azam’s performance in the last 14 Test matches? Without addressing their performances, there won’t be any progress; the Pakistan team won’t get back on the right track. There are some decisions that will have to be taken. Those people who are involved in all of this, whose performances are low, they will also have to be held accountable.”

“No one is greater than cricket and the country. The country is above everything else. No matter how many people run your PR, no matter how many people hide behind personal milestones, no matter how many people buy boards, no matter how much money someone invests, we know everything. And those who are handling the helm of affairs in PCB, they also know everything. It’s time to hold accountable not just one person, but everyone involved if you truly want to move in the right direction."

 

[mominsaigol]

We wanted shaheen out with the rest of the lot. Not just shaheen out and the guilty party to put all blame on him.

 

[aukhan]

Good decision, whoever made that call. His politics have already divided the team. He is just an average 4 over bowler.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Good decision. Talented players who are underperforming need their ego checked. They have so much pride, that will come back strong to prove everyone wrong.

In office culture, he will come under high potential and underperforming employee, who needs to be challenged to become high potential and high performing.

 

[Asad T]

He should not have removed his Shan's hand from his shoulder loll

 

[BouncerGuy]

He should not have removed his Shan's hand from his shoulder loll

Maybe shaheen spoke with Shan in Urdu and he did not like that.

 

[MenInG]

And as expected.

"According to sources" type report in the media (ie Shaheen probably told someone)

Pakistan's left-arm pacer, Shaheen Afridi, is heartbroken after being excluded from the recently announced 12-member squad for the second Test, expressing profound sadness over what he views as persistent unfair treatment.

The responsibility for the embarrassing loss to Bangladesh in the first Test match at Rawalpindi has been unjustly attributed to Shaheen.

In spite of his consistent performance, he is the only player omitted from the team for the second Test, while Mir Hamza and Abrar Ahmed have been added to the 12-member squad.

After the first Test, Shaheen received permission to visit his newborn child, Aliyaar, in Karachi but was unexpectedly summoned back to Rawalpindi two days later. Sources indicate that the young pacer was shocked upon learning of his exclusion, puzzled as to why he was recalled when there were no intentions of including him in the game.

 

[zaidihusain]

And as expected.

"According to sources" type report in the media (ie Shaheen probably told someone)

Pakistan's left-arm pacer, Shaheen Afridi, is heartbroken after being excluded from the recently announced 12-member squad for the second Test, expressing profound sadness over what he views as persistent unfair treatment.

The responsibility for the embarrassing loss to Bangladesh in the first Test match at Rawalpindi has been unjustly attributed to Shaheen.

In spite of his consistent performance, he is the only player omitted from the team for the second Test, while Mir Hamza and Abrar Ahmed have been added to the 12-member squad.

Baseless source. When did he performed consistently? Shaheen is not only blamed for Rawalpindi loss, whole team is blamed but he can't compare himself with those payers who have played less than 10 matches are in the team since 1-2 years

After the first Test, Shaheen received permission to visit his newborn child, Aliyaar, in Karachi but was unexpectedly summoned back to Rawalpindi two days later. Sources indicate that the young pacer was shocked upon learning of his exclusion, puzzled as to why he was recalled when there were no intentions of including him in the game.

he is not a young pacer, he has played 30 test matches and permanent in the team since 2018. If the source is true, Shaheen should stop playing victim card, either improve your game and then return or leave. I hope few others are next in line like Babar, Shaan, Naseem

 

[The_Last_Samurai]

And as expected.

"According to sources" type report in the media (ie Shaheen probably told someone)

Pakistan's left-arm pacer, Shaheen Afridi, is heartbroken after being excluded from the recently announced 12-member squad for the second Test, expressing profound sadness over what he views as persistent unfair treatment.

The responsibility for the embarrassing loss to Bangladesh in the first Test match at Rawalpindi has been unjustly attributed to Shaheen.

In spite of his consistent performance, he is the only player omitted from the team for the second Test, while Mir Hamza and Abrar Ahmed have been added to the 12-member squad.

After the first Test, Shaheen received permission to visit his newborn child, Aliyaar, in Karachi but was unexpectedly summoned back to Rawalpindi two days later. Sources indicate that the young pacer was shocked upon learning of his exclusion, puzzled as to why he was recalled when there were no intentions of including him in the game.

He was recalled so that he can be humiliated face to face in real time. It was a warning to others that they too would be dropped if they thought that they would get away by being star players even after performing poorly and just doing politics.

 

[Varun]

Pakistan have a test tour to South Africa next. He will definitely be back.

 

[MenInG]

To be fair to Shaheen and his commitment, he could well have missed the first Test as his child was expected.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Reports were already emerging that Shaheen might miss the 2nd Test to spend time with his family following the birth of his newborn son.

 

[Advaith]

I don't know about long term benifits but it will certainly provide short term benifits..

 

[sweep_shot]

Dropping is a good idea because he was out of form. It sends out a message that no player is un-droppable.

 

[mominsaigol]

Dropping is a good idea because he was out of form. It sends out a message that no player is un-droppable.

Where's this message for bobby?

 

[FearlessRoar]

Shaheen Shah Afridi released from Test squad

Rawalpindi, 30 August 2024:

The team management has decided to release Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Test squad to allow him to spend time with his family. Shaheen, who featured in the first Test against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 20 to 25 August, is not part of the 12-member squad announced on Thursday for the second Test match.

 

[MenInG]

Shaheen Shah Afridi released from Test squad

Rawalpindi, 30 August 2024:

The team management has decided to release Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Test squad to allow him to spend time with his family. Shaheen, who featured in the first Test against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 20 to 25 August, is not part of the 12-member squad announced on Thursday for the second Test match.

Now I am starting to have pity on him - this is so silly.

Quite probable that he left the squad in a huff and PCB trying to look smart by saying they have released him.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

I think this would be good for him as if some new comer starts performing at his expense then that would serve as an incentive for him to improvise his bowling and regain his past form.

 

[Major]

Selection and dropping is normal part of sports.

Shaheen making it a big deal

 

[offstump]

Shaheen in the team made us worse, it is a positive to have him out simply because a more deserving bowler will get a spot.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

This arrogant and spoiled kid of PCB needs some bashing... who cares if he doesnt want to play just move on and give a chance to any deserving player waiting in the que.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Their are a few more players that deserved to be dropped from the squad including Bobby.

 

[indianpanacea]

I would drop many more. When u have already touched the lowest ebb as a team, no better time to do major surgery and make fresh team snd give them consistent run. My team would have been
1) M. Huraira
2) Abdullah shafiq
3) Saim ayub
4) saud
5) Kamran Ghulam
6) Rohail Nazir
7) zafar Gouhar
8) Amir jamal
9) yasir shah
10) Hamza
11) Naseem

 

[TheSultan]

Shaheen had to go - don’t have a problem with that.

But to not punish not even ONE batsman in the lineup when they were the biggest failures is ridiculous.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

I would drop many more. When u have already touched the lowest ebb as a team, no better time to do major surgery and make fresh team snd give them consistent run. My team would have been
1) M. Huraira
2) Abdullah shafiq
3) Saim ayub
4) saud
5) Kamran Ghulam
6) Rohail Nazir
7) zafar Gouhar
8) Amir jamal
9) yasir shah
10) Hamza
11) Naseem

Yasir Shah?

he has been retired bro

 

[ElRaja]

babar averaging 20 odd in his last 7 tests deserves the chop too, kill the social media hype train egos.

 

[cricketcricket79]

If Pakistan loses next test (they might), same standards should be applied for other players too to ensure there is consistent message to all the players. I have a feeling that fair process would go a long way in assuaging sense of perceived injustice.

 

[jnaveen1980]

He has strictly become a T20 bowler now. Not sure if he is good even for ODIs. Test match bowling requires certain discipline where you have to repeat things boringly. Asitha Fernando did that brilliantly even with his limited skills. This guy has become a glory ball hunter. People are ready now. In tests you have to be able to hit the deck on a 3/4 of a length consistently like Hazlewood/Cummins do. When there is swing on offer he can be useful provided he doesn't stray down the leg side too much. But when the ball stops swinging what does he do? He has to improve as a bowler.

 

[mominsaigol]

Shaheen got dropped cause he's no longer a buddy, not cause of poor form, otherwise Babar would have been booted out in 2022

 

[BouncerGuy]

Shaheen got dropped cause he's no longer a buddy, not cause of poor form, otherwise Babar would have been booted out in 2022

Shaheen's form is pretty bad as well just like Shan Masood's. Should he be booted out as well???

 

[mominsaigol]

Shaheen's form is pretty bad as well just like Shan Masood's. Should he be booted out as well???

100%, Shan should not even be captaining or have even been brought back into the team lol.

If pcb wanted to use the excuse that his 58 avg is the reason he deserved a chance in odi then fine.

But captaincy? That too of test? Haha

 

[BouncerGuy]

100%, Shan should not even be captaining or have even been brought back into the team lol.

If pcb wanted to use the excuse that his 58 avg is the reason he deserved a chance in odi then fine.

But captaincy? That too of test? Haha

If Shan can become captain, I can be the captain as well. Might as well perform better than him.

 

[cricketjoshila]

He needs to stop listening to his FIL.