Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi Likely to Miss Initial Matches in New Zealand T20I Series

In a development that may disappoint cricket enthusiasts, the media has reported that Pakistan’s star fast bowler, Shaheen Afridi, is expected to sit out several matches during the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.

According to the sources, the decision to rest Afridi is part of the team’s rotation policy, aimed at managing player workload in preparation for the 2024 T20 World Cup scheduled for June.

It is anticipated that Afridi will miss the first two matches of the five-match series but will likely return for the last three encounters.

This news comes on the heels of Afridi’s recent replacement as captain of the T20I side by Babar Azam. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) justified the change as a strategic move to prioritize player well-being and ensure peak performance.

While acknowledging Afridi’s stellar performance as a fast bowler and his leadership of Pakistan’s pace attack, the PCB emphasized the importance of rotation and rest to maintain his peak performance, especially considering the injury timelines of fast bowlers in recent years.

The PCB’s decision reflects their commitment to safeguarding the longevity of players and avoiding an injury crisis, as witnessed before the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023.

As the New Zealand squad arrived in Islamabad on Sunday, the Pakistan team has also gathered in the federal capital after the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, gearing up for the series.

Pakistan Squad:

• Captain: Babar Azam
• Players:  Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Reserves: Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

New Zealand Squad:

• Captain: Michael Bracewell
• Players: Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (WK), Ish Sodhi