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Should Shaheen Shah Afridi's workload be managed by the PCB?

Short sighted stuff from PCB, as always. Have they every had the vision to rest a key player?

SA sends B-squad cause they don't care about winning the series, just want to identify talent.
Pakistan meanwhile running players into the ground
 
I don't think there is a need for him to play the SA LO series. He needs a break.
 
Shaheen's workload compared to that of his contemporaries. Madness.

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This isn’t a measure of workload. It’s a measure of when they debuted. I’m sure Shaheen has a higher workload than the other names on this list, but to get the actual workload you would need to divide this number of overs by the number of years he played cricket. And do the same for everyone else.

Once you do that, you’ll likely still get Shaheen with a higher workload, but it will unlikely be a huge difference.

Just for reference, Rabada made his ODI and Test debut at the age of 20 so this only shows about 1 year’s worth of workload.

That’s 344 overs in one year, versus Shaheen’s debut at the age of 18, which means 750/3= 250 overs per year.

Relax. The medical panel has approved Shaheen’s workload and believes he needs it to enhance his muscle strength. His speeds are also going up game after game which testifies to this. Put the stats in context and it’s not as bad as it looks like. We don’t play that many Tests per year anyways, and Shaheen skips the first class season. So the majority of this workload is coming at the Test level, whereas some of those other bowlers in the list also play first class cricket because they’re in and out of the senior team.

Notice that this graph is of the most overs bowled in international cricket - it doesn’t tell the entire story.
 
And now, match after match after match in the Pakistan Super League where he will be expected to lead the line for Qalandars.

I really don't get why they didn't let him skip the T20Is versus South Africa.
 
And now, match after match after match in the Pakistan Super League where he will be expected to lead the line for Qalandars.

I really don't get why they didn't let him skip the T20Is versus South Africa.

That is a question more for M Wasim I guess.
 
[MENTION=151892]Thunderbolt14[/MENTION]

Our PCB medical panel has a poor record of handling our fast bowlers though.

There was no need for Shaheen to have played the Zimbabwe ODIs, or this meaningless T20 series vs South Africa C.

We know he'll be bowled into the dust in PSL, and they won't drop him for the South Africa and Zimbabwe tours. We'll have an Asia Cup possibly and an England tour this summer.

So when's he getting his rest ?
 
[MENTION=151892]Thunderbolt14[/MENTION]

Our PCB medical panel has a poor record of handling our fast bowlers though.

There was no need for Shaheen to have played the Zimbabwe ODIs, or this meaningless T20 series vs South Africa C.

We know he'll be bowled into the dust in PSL, and they won't drop him for the South Africa and Zimbabwe tours. We'll have an Asia Cup possibly and an England tour this summer.

So when's he getting his rest ?

Apparently they consulted England-based physios and doctors when we visited England last year who said that injury is more likely for Shaheen when he is coming back from rest, rather than staying in rhythm. They said that he should be played for the next 6-8 months or so (until March-April) allowing his leg muscles and shoulders to strengthen and get conditioned to the workload.

If Shaheen is rested from the games, us fans will get happy, but he will likely still be given a diet of bowling a decent number of overs in the nets. Probably more than 4 overs too to be honest.

The PSL will definitely be high workload, and I would play him in the SA ODIs followed by rest in the first 2 out of 4 T20Is. I would them play him in the last two and then rest him in the entirety of the upcoming Zimbabwe tour.

Up till now, I see no problems in Shaheen’s workload over the last 2 years. Yes he has been bowled a lot, but he has responded extremely well to it as well.
 
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Too much talk over his workload when he is going to play in the PSL right after this series.

It wouldn’t have any difference even if he would have been rested in this series because he is not going to get decent rest anyway.
 
I would also like to add that Shaheen got a lot of rest before the England series, and we saw how out of rhythm he was not having played cricket in such a long time — his body just wasn’t used to the workload and I suspect his height has a role to play in this as well.

I would much rather continue playing him unless he develops pain at which point he needs to be rested immediately.

The last time we mismanaged a bowler, it was Hassan Ali — the issue was less the medical panel’s fault, and more the fact that he hid his pain from the appropriate staff and kept playing despite knowing he had groin issues and back spasms. This eventually took his toll on his form, and then ended up in a serious injury.

If Shaheen has a back spasm or any other kind of issue, I will rest him immediately — based on the information we fans have, unless Shaheen is hiding something, there is no reason to rest him. His speeds, again, are going up match after match which indicate his body is enjoying the workload.

Just last Test he was clocking 140+ consistently with several 145kph balls.
 
Too much talk over his workload when he is going to play in the PSL right after this series.

It wouldn’t have any difference even if he would have been rested in this series because he is not going to get decent rest anyway.

Agreed.
 
Apparently they consulted England-based physios and doctors when we visited England last year who said that injury is more likely for Shaheen when he is coming back from rest, rather than staying in rhythm. They said that he should be played for the next 6-8 months or so (until March-April) allowing his leg muscles and shoulders to strengthen and get conditioned to the workload.

If Shaheen is rested from the games, us fans will get happy, but he will likely still be given a diet of bowling a decent number of overs in the nets. Probably more than 4 overs too to be honest.

The PSL will definitely be high workload, and I would play him in the SA ODIs followed by rest in the first 2 out of 4 T20Is. I would them play him in the last two and then rest him in the entirety of the upcoming Zimbabwe tour.

Up till now, I see no problems in Shaheen’s workload over the last 2 years. Yes he has been bowled a lot, but he has responded extremely well to it as well.

Interesting. Well we should follow the science, what I don't want is to keep playing Shaheen for sake of saving Misbah and Waqar's jobs.

He's our pace spearhead in all three formats now, despite still being very young, and we need to manage him carefully. In a normal team, Shaheen would be our second or third seamer behind one or two more established players.
 
Apparently he has an elbow condition which requires that he bowl and play consistently to maintain his speeds, he apparently struggles and gets out of rhythm when rested which is why the PCB is playing him in every game.

Hassan Ali's workload is being monitored which is why he was rested for the first two T-20's as his physique needs it.
 
Actually good to know the PCB has an individual plan for Shaheen, based on his own unique situation & physique/age etc, in consultation with experts.

Given that he showed he was still at full strength & top speeds at the end of the last Test series, I'd say he is being used appropriately. Pakistan don't play quite as much cricket as some other countries & spin takes a slightly greater load at home matches.

Also worth considering that the limited venues in use currently means less travel between matches/venues. This is actually better for fast bowlers & recover- less time jamming those long bodies into bus & airplaine seats & more settled routines for recovery.

The T20 leagues will be one to watch as they are so busy.
 
This isn’t a measure of workload. It’s a measure of when they debuted. I’m sure Shaheen has a higher workload than the other names on this list, but to get the actual workload you would need to divide this number of overs by the number of years he played cricket. And do the same for everyone else.

Once you do that, you’ll likely still get Shaheen with a higher workload, but it will unlikely be a huge difference.

Just for reference, Rabada made his ODI and Test debut at the age of 20 so this only shows about 1 year’s worth of workload.

That’s 344 overs in one year, versus Shaheen’s debut at the age of 18, which means 750/3= 250 overs per year.

Relax. The medical panel has approved Shaheen’s workload and believes he needs it to enhance his muscle strength. His speeds are also going up game after game which testifies to this. Put the stats in context and it’s not as bad as it looks like. We don’t play that many Tests per year anyways, and Shaheen skips the first class season. So the majority of this workload is coming at the Test level, whereas some of those other bowlers in the list also play first class cricket because they’re in and out of the senior team.

Notice that this graph is of the most overs bowled in international cricket - it doesn’t tell the entire story.

which medical panel?
Never seen such an incompetent medical team in sports medicine for last 20 years. Glaring examples are infront of you. They are so obvious, don't need to be quoted.
 
We the fans beg the PCB to give Shaheen the only 20 year old to bowl 750 overs - give him rest!

148263976_866014047526496_2486649349057753171_n.jpg

Look at the insane stats above, this is ridiculous. Like a great political leader once said: "Koi sharam hoti hai, koi haya hoti hai" :apology

This is insane. Misbah-Waqar will run SSA to the ground. Muhammad Wasim, please dont select SSA - simply drop him yourself because these guys will play him against even a Galli Mohallah team if they could. For god sake, he is the only talented bowler we have beside maybe Hasan Ali. Khuda ka khauf karo, Misbah Waqar.

Onus is on Babar too now, he needs to grow a spine and put the foot down too if no one else can save Shaheen. :naseem
 
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Is being overworked massively. Whats the point of playing your premier fast bowler in the T20s/ODIs against Zim and a B series against SA?

I really like watching him bowl. Would be a shame if he were to break down because of such mismanagement
 
View attachment 107053

Look at the insane stats above, this is ridiculous. Like a great political leader once said: "Koi sharam hoti hai, koi haya hoti hai" :apology

This is insane. Misbah-Waqar will run SSA to the ground. Muhammad Wasim, please dont select SSA - simply drop him yourself because these guys will play him against even a Galli Mohallah team if they could. For god sake, he is the only talented bowler we have beside maybe Hasan Ali. Khuda ka khauf karo, Misbah Waqar.

Onus is on Babar too now, he needs to grow a spine and put the foot down too if no one else can save Shaheen. :naseem

This is so sad.
 
Shaheen is not being overworked :facepalm

That is such a horrible statistic to use because it puts absolutely nothing in context.
 
Shaheen is not overworked. In fact he needs to bowl more, especially with the old ball because at the moment he is utterly rubbish with it. Since he doesn't play FC cricket, he will only learn how to bowl if he plays international cricket. At the moment Shaheen is only a handful for 5 overs in Tests upfront and 2 overs in T20s.

Needs a lot of bowling with the older bowl to get better. I would probably rest him in the T20s with SA but that's about it.
 
This isn’t a measure of workload. It’s a measure of when they debuted. I’m sure Shaheen has a higher workload than the other names on this list, but to get the actual workload you would need to divide this number of overs by the number of years he played cricket. And do the same for everyone else.

Once you do that, you’ll likely still get Shaheen with a higher workload, but it will unlikely be a huge difference.

Just for reference, Rabada made his ODI and Test debut at the age of 20 so this only shows about 1 year’s worth of workload.

That’s 344 overs in one year, versus Shaheen’s debut at the age of 18, which means 750/3= 250 overs per year.

Relax. The medical panel has approved Shaheen’s workload and believes he needs it to enhance his muscle strength. His speeds are also going up game after game which testifies to this. Put the stats in context and it’s not as bad as it looks like. We don’t play that many Tests per year anyways, and Shaheen skips the first class season. So the majority of this workload is coming at the Test level, whereas some of those other bowlers in the list also play first class cricket because they’re in and out of the senior team.

Notice that this graph is of the most overs bowled in international cricket - it doesn’t tell the entire story.

Adding to this, Shaheen is likely not 21-22 years old, not 20. In which case his workload “by the age of 20” is actually three times less.

This is one of the most useless “stats” I’ve seen in my life.
 
Karachi: Lahore Qalandars captain Sohail Akhtar has said that they will try to manage Pakistan’s leading pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s workload during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six.

While talking to media in a pre-tournament presser, Sohail revealed that the star pacer won’t be overburdened and will be provided rest when needed.

“He is an asset for Pakistan and we will try to manage his workload properly by giving him rest whenever it is needed and possible by the team,” he said.

Sohail emphasized that in the last season, their spin attack was weak and after Rashid Khan’s arrival in the side, the attack is now strengthened.

“Rashid Khan is the top bowler of the world. With his arrival our spin attack has also got some much-needed experience and it has made our bowling attack a top class one,” Akhtar said.

Meanwhile, Sohail is confident of doing well this season too as they were the runners-up in PSL 2020. “We played good cricket last year. We came so near to the title but couldn’t finish well. This year, we will try to overcome our all shortcomings and give our best. the Qalandars are positive and focused about the upcoming tournament.”

ARY

Good news as he will be rearing to go for the South Africa ODIs.
 
Shaheen Shah Afridi: Workload concerns

I just looked at the squads for upcoming matches and saw Shaheen Afridi’s name in all formats. I feel this is redicilous and it seems like only a matter of time before he picks up a serious injury.

I also remember Misbah’s interview last month where he said Shaheen is not over-bowling and there are no worries, when it comes to workload of bowlers I just don’t trust this guy. He did the same thing with the bowlers when he was captain.

The selectors need to take the workload of Shaheen seriously as he is the only WC player we have, in addition to Babar of course.
 
That's the Pakistan and Bangladesh way. When you strike gold with a player, you play him in every format - Test, ODI or T20, and against everyone from Australia to Zimbabwe.

No exceptions. The likes of Saeed Ajmal and Mustafizur Rahman can tell you all about this.
 
I just looked at the squads for upcoming matches and saw Shaheen Afridi’s name in all formats. I feel this is redicilous and it seems like only a matter of time before he picks up a serious injury.

I also remember Misbah’s interview last month where he said Shaheen is not over-bowling and there are no worries, when it comes to workload of bowlers I just don’t trust this guy. He did the same thing with the bowlers when he was captain.

The selectors need to take the workload of Shaheen seriously as he is the only WC player we have, in addition to Babar of course.

That shows they dont know how to manage or they dont have a plan for managing bowlers workloads..
The galli mohalla coaches like Misbah and Waqar can only think to a certain extent..
 
Apparently he has an elbow condition which requires that he bowl and play consistently to maintain his speeds, he apparently struggles and gets out of rhythm when rested which is why the PCB is playing him in every game.

Hassan Ali's workload is being monitored which is why he was rested for the first two T-20's as his physique needs it.


Well his elbow condition is the problem , play him in every format and every game is not the solution for it.. For his elbow condition , what you are suggesting is burn out his knees and back so that he catch serious injury..

Instead I expect the medical panel to make a plan to manage his workload taking his elbow condition or whatever condition into account.. Bowling him every match and series is not the solution..
 
Apparently they consulted England-based physios and doctors when we visited England last year who said that injury is more likely for Shaheen when he is coming back from rest, rather than staying in rhythm. They said that he should be played for the next 6-8 months or so (until March-April) allowing his leg muscles and shoulders to strengthen and get conditioned to the workload.

If Shaheen is rested from the games, us fans will get happy, but he will likely still be given a diet of bowling a decent number of overs in the nets. Probably more than 4 overs too to be honest.

The PSL will definitely be high workload, and I would play him in the SA ODIs followed by rest in the first 2 out of 4 T20Is. I would them play him in the last two and then rest him in the entirety of the upcoming Zimbabwe tour.

Up till now, I see no problems in Shaheen’s workload over the last 2 years. Yes he has been bowled a lot, but he has responded extremely well to it as well.


They should make a plan to manage his workload , agree that every players body condition is different and will respond differently.. Bowling him again and again is not the solution for it..

Bowling him in every match to keep him in rhythm and out of catching injury sounds ridiculous.. Obviously that is not the solution for whatever his condition may be.. Playing matches these days is not just a mechanical thing, they also have to mentally fit to perform to their potential.. If his body is tired that will also quickly catch up the mental part of it and he will shorten his career by 5 years or more..

One of the major reasons pakistan doesnt have a test bowler who hasnt taken 200+ wickets ever since Waqar retired..
 
How do you manage the workload of a youngster who doesn’t want a rest?
 
Obviously should be but won't be. Pakistan will grind him to dust until he has nothing left and is completely unusable.

So you know, the usual.
 
This cancelation of PSL is a blessing in disguise for Shaheen.

I suspect Shaheen won't be fully fit once the T20 WC approaches unless M Wasim uses common sense. PT master Waqar and Misbah the loser will run Shaheen to the ground. Their excuse; some medical guy has told them that Shaheen (apparently the new superman from krypton) has the sort of body that doesn't get fatigued or stressed.
 
Our Plead: Please rest Shaheen Shah Afridi!!!

This goes without saying! Another T20 series coming up and the upcoming Zimbabwe tour will defo burn him out and also reduce his pace and hamper his fitness levels which will likely give him an undue injury.

Please for the sake of our future, rest the kid!!!
 
I hope Shaheen is given a rest and skips the Zimbabwe tour.Pakistan has enough bench strength eg Arshad,Wasim,Hasnain,
Rauf,Hasan,Dhabi plus spinners Nawaz,Usman,Mehmood.
 
https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/news/detail/cricket-boards-cant-compete-with-ipl-aaqib-javed

[Aqib Javed] compared India’s pacer Jasprit Bumrah with Pakistan’s speedster Shaheen Afridi, while also urging the team management to manage the latter’s workload carefully.

“[Jasprit] Bumrah is a really good bowler who is good at everything. Right, now he is better than Shaheen [Afridi] in terms of death bowling. Although, with the new ball, Shaheen is ahead of him,” he said.

“It is injustice with Shaheen to make him play every match. Pakistan team should manage his workload carefully. They should not play him when the team has lost the series or adopt a proper rotation policy. Shaheen should only play those matches which are important,” he added.
 
He hurt his ankle in the 1st T20I against South Africa and I thought oh no, here we go. Thankfully he recovered but sooner or later this guy will get injured if they don't rest him.
 
I would rest him for the next two T20s.

Crazy that we have 4 dozen fast bowlers travelling with the team but Shaheen is being played every game!
 
Misbah and Co. will give Shaheen a rest only when he would be injured. Watch and see.
 
To be honest I dont think he's played much since 2020 till present

8 test matches

3 odis

12 t20s

And a few psl games which has been stop start Thanks to covid and now this yr pcb shamble of a bio secure bubble.

He doesn't play qea or domestics.

And I dont really think t20s are tasking he bowls 2 over spells, 2 with new ball and then 2 at the end .
 
Misbah and Co. will give Shaheen a rest only when he would be injured. Watch and see.

They honestly believe that Shaheen only improves his fitness by playing more. The reason they never rest him.

I think they did some tests on him as well in the UK last year.
 
Pakistan don't play so much cricket that he is at serious risk of burnout just yet. As #Mazkhan says basically no cricketer is overplayed during this covid era.

Possibly guys in the IPL merry go round will build up some fatigue with the travel & frequent games.

T20s are taxing simply because the fielding intensity is also high- sprinting and throwing full pelt and quick changes during overs & always being mentally "switched on". It'd be more of an intense physical & mental load but it's not like he's jumping over to IPL & flying out to county duties in off seasons.
 
The PCB and the team management claim to have done a study on Shaheen's body by a noted biomechanic expert in the UK who concluded that Shaheen actually gets better when he is bowling and playing consistently. On the tour to England in the first few test matches, his speeds and rhythm were down because of the extended break he had due to Covid but once he started playing more and more games his speeds went up. It's a rare but unique case.
 
Apparently Shaheen has an elbow condition which requires he consistently play.
 
They better rest him for the Zimbabwe T20s and at least one Test. Would be better to give a debut to someone and try them out in those Zim T20 matches than playing someone like Shaheen who's going to be one of the first names on the team sheet for the World Cup anyway.
 
Rumours are he will be rested for 2nd and may be 3rd t20 depending on result. And 2 Zimbabwe t20’s hopefully if all goes to plan. Tomorrow Hasnain will play or may be wasim gets a debut.
 
They honestly believe that Shaheen only improves his fitness by playing more. The reason they never rest him.

I think they did some tests on him as well in the UK last year.

That is a Waqar Younis mentality. We remember how injury prone he became during his career, and lets not forget how he handled Junaid Khan, Irfan when he was the head coach.

Shaheen has to be rested in 3rd T20I.
 
1/45 [4]
0/30 [3]
1/39 [4]

Shaheen Shah Afridi in this T20I series.

Should he not be rested now?
 
1/45 [4]
0/30 [3]
1/39 [4]

Shaheen Shah Afridi in this T20I series.

Should he not be rested now?

There should be an asterisk next to each one of his figures, to remind everyone that he’s been getting smashed by a South Africa B team.
 
He can play today, but shouldn't bowl a single over in Zimbabwe.

We've plenty of upcoming international cricket, plus the rescheduled PSL, so he surely he won't lose rhythm with a few weeks off.
 
Seems no respite for Shaheen - lets hope he gets through without a breakdown
 
Waqar Younis:

"We are monitoring workloads and the fitness of each of the bowlers. You have to bear in mind that PSL was cancelled so the boys had a good rest before the series in South Africa so nobody was suffering from fatigue."
 
Sometimes you feel like grabbing people like waqar and giving them a good shake down. It’s plain for all to see how horrible SSA has become over the last 12 months or so. His whole body collapses at point of delivery , speeds are consistently down and can’t bowl (maintain) a simple line and length. I thought he would face developed the ball that swings away from the RHB by now but nothing. He is so predictable.

They say they are managing his workload? How...by making him repeat the mistakes he makes match after match and grind him down? It’s one thing to not cause injury but quite another to not allow rest and reflection so he can work on his deliveries.
 
Sometimes you feel like grabbing people like waqar and giving them a good shake down. It’s plain for all to see how horrible SSA has become over the last 12 months or so. His whole body collapses at point of delivery , speeds are consistently down and can’t bowl (maintain) a simple line and length. I thought he would face developed the ball that swings away from the RHB by now but nothing. He is so predictable.

They say they are managing his workload? How...by making him repeat the mistakes he makes match after match and grind him down? It’s one thing to not cause injury but quite another to not allow rest and reflection so he can work on his deliveries.

His pace isn't down he was still bowling close to 90mph but he should be tested definitely
 
Shaheen Shah Afridi speaking in a video by PCB

"I am enjoying playing cricket at the moment, the physio and trainer are keeping an eye on my workload; I did rest after playing PSL and whenever possible, I am given an opportunity to rest"
 
I think I read somewhere that the management asked Shaheen to sit out a few games and he refused to do so - I am forgetting where I read this.

If the above is true, how incompetent is our management? Do we just let players dictate when they'll play and when they'll sit out?
 
He should be rested in my opinion. Not because of that statistic of 750 overs, but because his recent performances in T20s have been going downards.

It would help if he has time to clear his mind and actually be fresh for the format.
 
The kid wants to play. He will do at his age, so it's down to the management to ensure that his workload is managed properly.

Shaheen isn't going to say himself that he doesn't want to play and wants to rest.
 
He should be rested in my opinion. Not because of that statistic of 750 overs, but because his recent performances in T20s have been going downards.

It would help if he has time to clear his mind and actually be fresh for the format.

Ssa bowling has been average of late. He need to play matches in between - I really like ssa but he need to clear his mind
 
Don't know if trainer and physios with the squad are competent or not. Or have they just hired guys from local gyms as trainers.
 
Coach and trainers probably have the desi attitude that all youngsters are invincible and should not be tired ever lolol. It's like whenever I get sick all the uncles ask me "Where is your HIMAT??"
 
should have been left at home, all these meaningless games are taking its toll on him, he doesnt look as dangerous last few months
 
Shaheen Afridi's white-ball career by year:

2018: 3 ODI's 17.61 Avg & 7 T20Is 18.45 Avg

2019: 13 ODI's 22.88 Avg & 3 T20Is 28.33 Avg

2020: 3 ODI's 25.40 Avg & 8 T20Is 29.37 Avg

2021: 3 ODI's 32.33 Avg & 7 T20Is 43.20 Avg


A steady decline, and the 2021 stats are especially worrying. Maybe needs a break to go back and rediscover his form.
 
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