Pakistan vs Bangladesh: Shaheen Afridi dropped from Pakistan's 12-member squad

Pakistan has announced a 12-member squad for the second Test against Bangladesh, set to take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Notably, ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been omitted from the squad. Head coach Jason Gillespie revealed that Afridi is "working on some things" to enhance his performance, leading to his exclusion from this match. In Afridi's absence, Abrar Ahmed and Mir Hamza have been recalled to the team. This decision reflects the hosts' strategy to employ more spin bowlers following their heavy 10-wicket defeat in the first Test. The return of Ahmed and Hamza suggests that the pitch for the second Test will be similar to that of the first, where spinners are expected to play a crucial role.

Gillespie also emphasized that the squad selection was made with the playing conditions in mind. The final playing XI will be determined on the morning of August 30, as the team continues to assess the conditions and make the necessary adjustments. This flexible approach highlights Pakistan’s commitment to adapting their strategy to the pitch and weather conditions, aiming to turn around their performance and compete more effectively against Bangladesh in the upcoming Test.

“Abrar Ahmed was included in the 12-member squad based on our assessment of the conditions. We have yet to see the pitch; we'll evaluate the conditions tomorrow morning,” Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

Jason Gillespie also provided an update on Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has recently welcomed a new addition to his family. The former Australian cricketer shared that the team management had a discussion with Afridi regarding his exclusion from the second Test. Afridi was informed about the decision and understood the reasoning behind it. Gillespie noted that the management had offered Afridi constructive feedback following his performance in the first Test, where he secured only two wickets. This feedback was part of an ongoing effort to help Afridi improve and regain his peak form.

The discussion with Afridi also considered his recent personal life changes, acknowledging that these might impact his performance. Despite the setback, the team remains supportive of Afridi, and the decision to rest him is aimed at allowing him the time to work on specific areas of his game. By addressing these concerns and providing targeted feedback, the management hopes to see Afridi return to his best form in future matches. This approach underscores the team's commitment to both player development and performance enhancement, balancing personal circumstances with professional expectations.

“Shaheen's missed out this game. We've had a good conversation with him, and he fully understands and appreciates the thinking behind it. Shaheen's been given some feedback. He's working on some things with his bowling to be as effective as he possibly can be. He's working really well with Azhar Mahmood. We want to see Shaheen at his best because we've got a lot of cricket in all formats and Shaheen's going to play a really big role in that,” 

Pakistan's 12-member squad

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.