The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled the squads for the forthcoming tour of South Africa, with the notable omission of fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Test lineup sparking widespread debate within the cricketing fraternity. Although Afridi has been named in the ODI and T20I squads, his exclusion from the red-ball format has prompted fans and experts alike to speculate on the reasoning behind this decision.
Shaheen Shah Afridi has been a linchpin of Pakistan’s bowling arsenal for several years, conistently delivering stellar performances. His omission from a pivotal Test series against South Africa, renowned for its demanding playing conditions, has raised eyebrows. Addressing the decision, Aaqib Javed, a member of the selection panel and interim white-ball coach, described it as a calculated move to safeguard Afridi’s fitness ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The selectors are focusing on maintaining stability in the ODI squad as they gear up for this esteemed tournament.
“Shaheen Shah Afridi’s exclusion from the Test squad is a strategic decision to ensure he remains physically and mentally fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Similarly, Fakhar Zaman was not considered as he is yet to regain form and match fitness. Our aim is to maintain consistency in ODI selections as part of our ICC Champions Trophy 2025 preparations, while also giving emerging talent opportunities in T20Is alongside experienced players. For Tests, we have focused on assembling a squad that can adapt to challenging conditions and consistently compete at the highest level,” Javed stated in a press release by PCB.
Fakhar Zaman the attacking opener of the Pakistan was dropped from the squad for the upcoming South Africa tour, explaining the exclusion Javed stated that the batter has to regain his form and fitness to get back in the jersey. However recently Zaman criticised the decision of the PCB management of dropping Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam for the last two tests against England. In a post on X, Fakhar Zaman emphasized the importance of protecting key players instead of undermining them.
According to Javed, Fakhar Zaman is ‘yet to regain form and match fitness’
Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
