Pakistan’s white-ball coach, Jason Gillespie, has provided detailed insights into the strategic decision to exclude left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi from the squad for the second Test against Bangladesh, set to begin on Friday, August 30, in Rawalpindi.
In a press conference held earlier today, Gillespie explained that Shaheen’s absence is not due to injury but rather a well-considered choice aimed at balancing the team’s performance and Shaheen’s personal circumstances.
“Shaheen Will Sit Out” Shaheen Afridi, who has been a consistent performer for Pakistan across all formats, will not be part of the playing XI for the upcoming Test. Gillespie highlighted that this decision was made after an in-depth discussion with the player, who is fully supportive of the move.
“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,” Gillespie stated.
Balancing Personal and Professional Life The coach further elaborated on the various factors that influenced this decision, noting that Afridi’s recent life events and his ongoing commitment to all three formats of the game played a role in the final call.
“Shaheen has had an interesting couple of weeks—he’s a new father, he’s playing all three formats, and we’re seeing an opportunity to allow him to spend time with his family as well,” said Gillespie. “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.”
Strategic Team Management Gillespie emphasized the importance of ensuring Shaheen Afridi’s long-term fitness and readiness for the extensive cricket schedule ahead, including critical series across all formats.
“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,” Gillespie remarked.
Leadership Under Shan Masood The coach also praised the positive leadership style of captain Shan Masood, which has instilled a winning mentality within the squad. Despite the team’s loss in the first Test against Bangladesh, Gillespie remains optimistic about the team’s prospects in the second match.
“Shan is a very positive captain, and we want to play to win games of cricket. We showed our intent in the first game; we made the declaration because we wanted to get our opposition into bat. It obviously didn’t quite work out, but full credit to our opposition—they played really well,” said Gillespie.
Preparation and Optimism Despite unfavorable weather conditions limiting training sessions, Gillespie expressed confidence in the team’s preparation and determination to bounce back.
“We are just going to go out there and give our best. We’ve prepared very well, although we couldn’t do much training today or the day before yesterday because of the weather. However, we had a fantastic session yesterday. We are very disappointed to have lost the first Test, but we have reviewed it and moved on,” Gillespie explained.
He emphasized the importance of focusing on the upcoming match and learning from past experiences. “That game is gone, and there’s nothing more we can do about it now. What we can do is focus on the game starting tomorrow, and that’s where we’ve put our energy,” Gillespie added.
Pakistan’s Squad for the Second Test Pakistan has announced a 12-member squad for the final Test against Bangladesh, with the final playing XI to be revealed shortly before the match.
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
As Pakistan gears up for the second Test, all eyes will be on how the team adapts to the absence of Shaheen Afridi and how they leverage the leadership of Shan Masood to secure a series-leveling victory against Bangladesh.
