Criticised Over Decision To Rest Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan Team Director Mohammad Hafeez Clarifies

08.01.2024 - 08:45 sports.ndtv.com

Muhammad Hafeez, Director of the Pakistan team, revealed that Shaheen Shah Afridi approached him with a request to take a break from the third and final Test against Australia at Sydney, contrary to the belief that it was the team management's decision to rest the left-arm pacer.

Australia defeated Pakistan by eight wickets at SCG on Saturday to complete a 3-0 series win. “We took the decision to rest Shaheen and manage his workload because we didn't want his body to be adversely affected,” Hafeez said after the third Test against Australia.

The decision to rest Afridi for the final Test came as a surprise to the Pakistani cricket community. Pakistan fast bowling greats, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, also tore into the team management for their decision to rest Afridi for the Test.

In the wake of the hue and cry on the first day of the Sydney Test, Afridi had told the host broadcasters that the team management and support staff felt he should rest from the match.

cricket Pakistan Cricket Team Shaheen Afridi Shaheen Shah Afridi Mohammad Hafeez Australia New Zealand Pakistan

The newly-appointed acting chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shah Khawar on Friday said frequent changes in the board are not responsible for the national team's poor on-field performances in the last one year. Addressing the media on Friday, Khawar asserted that there were several other reasons for the team's below-par showing. "I don't think changes in the board in the last one year have affected the team. It might be a minor reason, but there are other other factors and once the new board of governors is formed and the new chairman takes charge, they will look into this," he said.

ILT20: Shaheen Afridi and Azam Khan beat jet lag to make winning start for Desert Vipers

Shaheen Afridi and Azam Khan overcame jet lag as they combined to make a winning start on their shared DP World International League T20 debuts.

"We Sorted Out": Shaheen Afridi's Big Update On Pakistan's T20 World Cup Squad

Pakistan skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi revealed that the Men in Green have sorted out 16 to 20 players for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 following the conclusion of the five-match series against New Zealand. Pakistan stood victorious in the final T20I against the Kiwis with a 42-run victory but were humbled throughout the series. Iftikhar Ahmed shone with his off-spin on a track that tended to fall on the slower side. After the game, Shaheen hailed the veteran spinner for his contribution and that the team has sorted out players for the World Cup which is slated to begin in June later this year.

"Had Fun For...": Mohammad Aamir's Sly Dig At Mohammad Rizwan For "Nuksaan Hua Hai" Comment

Former Pakistan cricket team fast bowler Mohammad Amir took a sly dig at ex-teammate Mohammad Rizwan over the latter's comments on how breaking his opening partnership with Babar Azam has hurt the national side in T20Is. Following Pakistan's loss in the 4th T20I match against New Zealand, Rizwan said that the opening partnership with Saim Ayub has not worked out and the decision to not play Babar as an opener has proven to be costly. However, Amir took to social media to weigh in on the matter and without taking any name, he asked people to support youngsters and not judge them.

Director Mohammad Hafeez's Long Meetings Making Pakistan Players "Restless": Report

Pakistan cricket team's director Mohammed Hafeez is reportedly making a lot of players in the side "restless" and the major reason behind the simmering disquiet is his tendency to hold "long meetings and lectures". According to media reports in Karachi, some players, who were not named, are unhappy with the meetings held by Hafeez during the tour of Australia and now in New Zealand. "He holds very long meetings and gives long lectures and some of the players get restless because same things are repeated," one media report said.

6,4,4,4, 6 - Finn Allen Smashes Shaheen Afridi For 24 Runs In 5 Balls. Watch

New Zealand opener Finn Allen had gone berserk against Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi during the first T20I match at Eden Park, Auckland on Friday. After taking a wicket in his first over, Shaheen returned for his second with great energy but Allen through his sensational batting got better of the left-arm pacer. He trashed him for 24 runs in the third over of the New Zealand innings. It all started with a six over deep mid-wicket off a slower first ball. Allen then smashed three fours in a row before hitting a six over long-on. The final delivery was a dot ball but the damage was already done.