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'Shaheen Will Sit Out,' Jason Gillespie Reveals Why Afridi Was Dropped For 2nd Test Vs Bangladesh

Jason Gillespie Reveals Why Afridi Was Dropped For 2nd Test Vs BAN [X]Jason Gillespie Reveals Why Afridi Was Dropped For 2nd Test Vs BAN [X]

In a significant development, Pakistan star pacer Shaheen Afridi has been dropped from the Pakistan's 12-man team ahead of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi, starting August 30.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not provide an official reason for his exclusion in their press release, leaving fans and analysts speculating about the decision.

However, the mystery was soon clarified by Pakistan's white-ball coach, Jason Gillespie, during a press conference. Gillespie revealed that the decision to drop Afridi was strategic and made after careful consideration of various factors. 

We're looking for the best combination: Gillespie

"Shaheen will sit out of this game. I had a good conversation with him, and he fully understands and appreciates the reasoning behind this decision. We're looking for the best combination for this game, and this is our direction. As I mentioned, we will assess the conditions in the morning and decide on the exact makeup of our bowling attack. Shaheen has received some feedback, and he’s had an interesting couple of weeks—he’s a new father, and we're seeing an opportunity to allow him to spend time with his family as well," Gillespie said.

The former Australian cricketer emphasized the importance of Afridi's collaboration with bowling coach Azhar Mahmood. 

"He’s working on a few aspects of his bowling to ensure he's as fit as possible. He’s been collaborating well with Azhar Mahmood, which has been fantastic. We certainly want to see Shaheen at his best because we have a lot of cricket ahead in all formats, and he’s going to play a big role in that. However, right now, we feel that we have all our bases covered for this particular game. But, make no mistake, Shaheen is a quality player and will play a significant role in the next 6-7 months," he added.

Pakistan's twelve member squad Vs BAN

Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Salman Ali Agha, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Mir Hamza