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Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Afridi has finally addressed the ongoing debate around the limited game time of Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Afridi offered clarity on why the young pacer has featured sporadically in white-ball cricket despite remaining part of the squad.
Wasim Jr, long viewed as one of Pakistan’s brightest fast-bowling prospects, has 41 wickets in 25 ODIs and remains highly rated for his pace and ability to move the ball.
Yet over the past year, his limited appearances have sparked widespread discussion among fans and critics.
He played just one match in the recent South Africa ODI series and two against Sri Lanka, picking up a combined five wickets.
Before that, he made only two ODI appearances on Pakistan’s New Zealand tour in April, and has not featured in T20Is since January 2024.
Speaking after Pakistan’s ODI series win over Sri Lanka, Shaheen Afridi revealed that Wasim Jr’s irregular run was not a reflection of his ability, but of his physical condition.
“I think he was being rotated, but perhaps you people weren’t aware,” Shaheen said at the post-match press conference. “Wasim Junior had a few injuries, and you usually give players opportunities based on those injuries.”
Shaheen explained that while Mohammad Wasim Jr. remained with the squad, he was not always fully fit to play consecutive matches.
“If a player is travelling with the team but not fully fit, like Wasim Junior was with the team, but he was carrying several injuries, then the team management naturally keeps rotating him,” he added.
The captain also stressed the importance of proper rehabilitation for bowlers, noting that fast bowling demands careful workload management.
“When you are with the team, you still need some treatment and care,” he said. “Now that he has made a comeback in the ODIs, he has shown that he has the skill; he can reverse swing the ball very well.”
Shaheen concluded by reaffirming the value Wasim Jr brings when healthy, placing him firmly among Pakistan’s current crop of match-winning quicks.
“All the bowlers in the pool right now are game-changers, and they are playing good cricket throughout,” he added.
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