Why Have Pakistan Dropped Shaheen Afridi For South Africa Tests?

Aashay Chopade

Shaheen Afridi has been dropped from Test squad (Source: @BDCricTime/X.com)Shaheen Afridi has been dropped from Test squad (Source: @BDCricTime/X.com)

The PCB has announced multi-format squads for the all-important tour of South Africa and one notable absentee from the Test squad is Shaheen Afridi. The fast bowler has been selected in the ODI and T20I squads, but has been omitted from the Test squad, leaving everyone wondering about his future in Test cricket.

Shaheen Afridi has been Pakistan's premier bowler for quite a few years now and to not include him in the Test squad for an important and difficult tour of South Africa is quite a surprise. During the release of the squad, Aqib Javed, the member of the selection committee and interim white-ball coach mentioned that Shaheen Afridi's exclusion from the squad was a strategic decision to keep him fit and fresh for the Champions Trophy 2025. 

He also added that they want to keep consistency in selection in ODIs with Champions Trophy around the corner, so Shaheen has been included in that format, but is not part of Test squad.

Shaheen Afridi's Inclusion In T20Is Raises Questions Over Fitness Management Strategy

However, the same logic of fitness was given when Shaheen Afridi was dropped during the England series at home. Also, if the management wants him to be rested, then his selection in the T20I squad seems unexplainable as the next T20 World Cup is still two years away. 

Mir Hamza has been included in the Test squad and he is also a left-arm seamer who seems to be a like-for-like replacement of Shaheen Afridi. So, the selection committee clearly seems to be trying out new options as Shaheen Afridi before his exclusion was struggling to find wickets in the longest format. 

He has picked 12 wickets in his last 5 Test matches and six of those came in only one game, so clearly there is more to his omission than just fitness.