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'Looks A Bit...,' Harsha Bhogle Reacts To Shaheen Afridi's Exclusion For 3rd Test vs AUS

image-lqw3rl97Shaheen Afridi at the MCG in late December (x.com)

Shaheen Afridi is set to miss Pakistan’s upcoming third Test match against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). A day prior to the much-awaited contest, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rested the senior speedster from their starting XI to make way for debutant Saim Ayub.

Under Shan Masood’s leadership, the visitors sustained heavy defeats in the first two Tests to concede their three-match series at the MCG itself.

Shaheen’s exclusion from team’s playing XI drew mixed reactions from several fans and experts across the Pakistani cricketing spectrum. Prominent Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle also joined the bandwagon by expressing his surprise over the team management call.

However, he further stated that he is looking forward to seeing debutant Saim Ayub in action because of his impressive record with the bat in first-class cricket.

Harsha Bhogle “excited” to see Saim Ayub

Harsha Bhogle expressed his surprise over Pakistan team management’s decision of resting Shaheen Afridi from their starting XI against Australia at the SCG. The Indian commentator is of the opinion that Pakistan’s bowling attack would look a bit “thin” without Afridi’s presence, and also expressed his excitement of seeing 21-year-old rising star Saim Ayub in action.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) a day before the SCG Test, Harsha Bhogle wrote:

“Big call to be without Shaheen Afridi for the Sydney Test. I thought Pakistan's key bowlers would be Shaheen and Abrar but looks a bit thin without them. Excited to see Saim Ayub. I've heard a lot about him.”

Shaheen Afridi claimed just two wickets in Pakistan’s 360-run defeat to Australia in the first Test of their three-match series at Perth in mid-December. The cricketer overcame his initial struggles in the following game by picking up figures of 4-76 in the second Australian innings at the MCG.

Saim Ayub, on the other hand, has impressed one-and-all with his splendid run with the bat in Pakistan’s domestic competitions. Having made his first-class debut back in September 2022, the 21-year-old averages over 46 in the format.