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Shaheen Afridi And...? 3 Players Who Might Be Dropped From Pakistan's Squad For England Tests

Shaheen might be dropped for ENG Tests [X]Shaheen might be dropped for ENG Tests [X]

After a heartbreaking series defeat against Bangladesh, Pakistan are gearing up to face England in a three-match Test series on home soil. Led by Shan Masood, Pakistan's journey in the Bangladesh series was disastrous, to say the least, as the Tigers crushed them in two successive matches to ensure a clean sweep. 

Mohammad Rizwan was Pakistan's lone shining light in an otherwise forgettable campaign, while Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi disappointed the hosts. Renowned for his consistency, Babar sustained his rough patch in Tests, finishing the series without a single half-century. On a similar note, Shaheen lost his place to Mir Hamza, who finally broke into the playing XI when the series was at stake. 

So, considering the importance of the England Tests, Pakistan could make certain bold changes in their squad. As the Men in Green aim to move up in the World Test Championship points table, let's see which players they might drop for the high-voltage series. 

Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen Afridi was a major letdown for Pakistan in the Bangladesh series. The ace speedster couldn't pick wickets at crucial junctures, managing only two wickets at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 96. 

The emergence of Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad could also shut the door for Shaheen, with the experienced pacer likely to lose his spot in the playing XI. While Shahzad bagged a fifer, Mir Hamza looked threatening with his immaculate line and length. Both these pacers seemed more lethal than Shaheen on home soil, offering a glimmer of hope for the future of Pakistan's fast bowling department. 

Babar Azam

Babar had a poor series vs Bangladesh [X]Babar had a poor series vs Bangladesh [X]

Pakistan's star batter, Babar Azam, was abysmal in the Bangladesh Tests, managing only 64 runs across four innings. After Shoriful Islam got him for a duck, Babar found his nemesis in Nahid Rana, who dismissed him twice in the next three innings. 

Besides technical limitations, Babar's recent Test form might dent his selection, as he hasn't scored a single fifty in the format since last year. Statistically, the stylish batter has amassed only 317 runs in his previous fifteen Test innings and hence might be ignored for the England series.  

Abdullah Shafique

The stylish right-handed batter did nothing significant in the Bangladesh home series, as the visiting pacers fest on his technical woes. Since the Australia series, Shafique has been a pale shadow of himself, managing only 152 runs in ten outings at a horrendous average of 15.2. 

Saim Ayub's impressive run in the Bangladesh series will likely help the southpaw retain his spot for the next few matches. So, given Shafique's torrid run in Test cricket, Pakistan might unleash Mohammad Huraira as Ayub's opening partner in the England series.