Sunday, December 08, 2024

Shaheen Shah Afridi Left Out of Pakistan's Test Squad for South Africa Tour

In a surprising move, Shaheen Shah Afridi has been excluded from Pakistan's squad for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa in December and January. Despite being released from Pakistan's Test side following their defeat in the first Test against England in October, Afridi remains part of the white-ball squads for the tour. However, his absence from the Test matches indicates that the red-ball format is becoming less of a priority for him, a decision that might have long-term implications for his career. When Afridi was initially dropped in October, many believed that the pace-friendly surfaces in South Africa, where he played his second and third Test matches five years ago, would suit him better as he sought to regain form. Since his return from a knee injury sustained during a Test in Sri Lanka in July 2022, Afridi has struggled to make an impact in Tests, taking only 17 wickets at an average of 45.47 in six matches. His omission from the South Africa Tests now casts doubt on his chances of being included in Pakistan's home Test series against the West Indies in January, after which Pakistan has no Test matches scheduled until October 2025. Mohammad Abbas returns to the Test side, having last played in 2021. Known for his accuracy and ability to seam the ball, Abbas is the only fast bowler from the squad that toured South Africa in 2018-19. The decision to include him suggests that Pakistan is banking on experience to navigate the challenging conditions in South Africa. Notably, Sajid Khan has been left out of the squad. Despite his crucial role in Pakistan's series against England, where he and Noman Ali helped turn the series around with their spin bowling, Pakistan has opted to travel with just one spinner for the South Africa series, choosing Noman's left-arm orthodox spin over Sajid's off-spin. Abrar Ahmed, once considered Pakistan's premier Test spinner, has also been omitted. Khurram Shahzad's return to the Test side is another significant development. After a rib injury sidelined him following Pakistan's home Tests against Bangladesh in August, Shahzad has made a strong comeback, taking 13 wickets in two Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches and another 15 in three innings against Sri Lanka A. Pakistan's Test squad appears to lack high pace, a critical asset in South African conditions. Naseem Shah remains the only true fast bowler, while the rest of the squad comprises Aamer Jamal, Shahzad, Abbas, and Mir Hamza. This contrasts sharply with South Africa's fast-bowling arsenal, known for its pace and aggression. The white-ball squads for the South Africa tour remain relatively stable, with few changes from the teams that played in Australia. Sufiyan Muqeem's impressive performances in Zimbabwe have earned him a spot in both the ODI and T20I squads. Omair Yousuf also retains his place in the T20I squad. Pakistan's tour of South Africa includes three T20Is and three ODIs between December 10 and 22, followed by two Test matches in Centurion and Cape Town starting on December 26 and January 7. Historically, South Africa has been a challenging venue for Pakistan, with only two Test victories and no series wins.

Pakistan Squads for South Africa Tour

Test Squad: - Shan Masood (capt) - Saud Shakeel (vice-capt) - Aamir Jamal - Abdullah Shafique - Babar Azam - Haseebullah (wk) - Kamran Ghulam - Khurram Shahzad - Mir Hamza - Mohammad Abbas - Mohammad Rizwan (wk) - Naseem Shah - Noman Ali - Saim Ayub - Salman Ali Agha

ODI Squad: - Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk) - Abdullah Shafique - Abrar Ahmed - Babar Azam - Haris Rauf - Kamran Ghulam - Mohammad Hasnain - Muhammad Irfan Khan - Naseem Shah - Saim Ayub - Salman Ali Agha - Shaheen Shah Afridi - Sufiyan Muqeem - Tayyab Tahir - Usman Khan (wk)

T20I Squad: - Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk) - Abrar Ahmed - Babar Azam - Haris Rauf - Jahandad Khan - Mohammad Abbas Afridi - Mohammad Hasnain - Muhammad Irfan Khan - Omair Bin Yousuf - Saim Ayub - Salman Ali Agha - Shaheen Shah Afridi - Sufyan Moqim - Tayyab Tahir - Usman Khan (wk)

In last resort

The exclusion of Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Test squad raises questions about the future direction of Pakistan's cricket strategy, especially in the red-ball format. The team management must address these issues and ensure a balanced and competitive squad for future tours.