RAWALPINDI: Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie shed light on the decision to leave out pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi from the lineup for the second Test against Bangladesh.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled the 12-member squad on Thursday which will form their Playing XI for the must-win second and final Test against Bangladesh.
Shaheen Afridi was a notable omission from the lineup along with wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed as well as uncapped batters Kamran Ghulam and Muhammad Hurraira.
Jason Gillespie, during a press conference in Rawalpindi, revealed the reason behind the decision to exclude Shaheen, labelling it a strategic decision.
“I had a good conversation with him [Shaheen Afridi], and he fully understands and appreciates the reasoning behind this decision. We’re looking for the best combination for this game, and this is our direction,” Gillespie said.
The Australian also mentioned that Shaheen has been given feedback on his bowling and will be working on improving it.
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Additionally, the left-arm pacer will be able to take some much-needed rest and spend quality time with his family, especially since his wife recently gave birth to a baby boy.
“Shaheen has received some feedback, and he’s had an interesting couple of weeks—he’s a new father, he’s playing all three formats, and we’re seeing an opportunity to allow him to spend time with his family as well,” he added.
Jason Gillespie also recognized the importance of Shaheen as a crucial bowler for Pakistan. He emphasized the need for Shaheen to perform at his peak, especially with Pakistan’s busy cricket schedule in the coming months.
“He’s working on a few aspects of his bowling to ensure he’s as fit as possible. He’s been collaborating well with Azhar Mahmood, which has been fantastic,” Jason shared.
“We certainly want to see Shaheen at his best because we have a lot of cricket ahead in all formats, and he’s going to play a big role in that.
“Make no mistake, Shaheen is a quality player and will play a significant role in the next 6-7 months.”
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