Pakistan Prime Minister Shaheen Afridi has stunned the cricketing world by opting to stay away from Test cricket ahead of the two-match Test series in South Africa. According to reports, Shaheen Afridi will also miss the upcoming Test series against the West Indies.
Shaheen Shah Afridi was the standout bowler for Pakistan in their recent ODI series against South Africa, taking seven wickets to help his side secure a 3-0 whitewash in the rainbow nation.
Shaheen Afridi is taking a break from Test cricket to stay fit for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
However, the 24-year-old pacer is not included in the Test squad for the upcoming two-match series in South Africa, which begins on December 26 at the SuperSport Park cricket stadium in Centurion.
Pakistan cricket team interim head coach and senior selector Aaqib Javed said that Shaheen Afridi's workload is being carefully managed to ensure that he remains fresh for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 and that is why he has been rested for the series of tests from South Africa.
But media reports claimed that the left-arm pacer had himself asked for a break from Test cricket. Shaheen Afridi has asked the team management and national selectors not to consider him for Test matches for the next two months, citing workload management.
Shaheen Shah Afridi will skip Tests till the end of Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan's star pacer wants to be fully fit for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 scheduled for February-March and that's why he doesn't want to involve himself in Test cricket but focusing on T20 cricket to manage his workload and be on fully prepared for the mega event.
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source was quoted by PTI as saying, “The truth is that Shaheen himself has asked not to be considered for Test matches until the Champions Trophy is over.”
Further, Afridi allegedly informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan Cricket Team management about a lucrative offer he received from a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchise.
The star pacer has assured the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the national team management that he will manage his workload during the BPL 2024-25, which will be played between December 30 and February 7.
The source further added: “He has assured management and the board that the money is very good and that he will take care of his fitness and workload during the event, so he should be allowed to play in the league.”
Shaheen Afridi will be available for selection for ODI Tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand
Afridi, who will now miss the four Tests against South Africa and West Indies during the 2024-25 BPL engagement, has assured the PCB and the Pakistan team management that he will be fully fit for the upcoming ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa. before the mega event.
The source added: “Shaheen said he will be fully fit in time for the tri-series ODIs against New Zealand and South Africa, followed by the Champions Trophy at home. Shaheen told Aaqib that he can be selected for Tests once the Champions Trophy is completed.”
Notably, Pakistan are no longer in the running for the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) finals. However, if South Africa win one of the next two Tests against Pakistan, they will qualify for the 2023-25 WTC finals to be held at Lord's Cricket Ground in June 2025.