Pakistan's star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his absence from the Sydney Test against Australia earlier in 2024. Afridi faced heavy criticism at the time, with reports suggesting he chose to skip the crucial match. The situation was critical for Pakistan. Having already lost the first two Tests, they desperately needed a win in Sydney to avoid a complete whitewash. However, their chances were significantly weakened by Afridi's absence. Later, the team director, Mohammad Hafeez, clarified that Afridi had indeed requested a break, but the narrative surrounding the decision remained unclear.
Shaheen Afridi's breaks silence on missing Sydney Test
In a recent statement, Afridi has set the record straight. He claims he was simply unfit to play. Furthermore, he also said that the decision to rest him wasn't his own, but rather a joint call made by the team management and medical panel, keeping in mind Pakistan's future commitments.
"I did not skip that Test match. It was the decision of the team management and medical panel because there was a lot of T20 cricket ahead. It was their way of managing my workload. If I had played that match, you might not have seen me with the team now, as my back and knees had become very stiff. Test cricket has always been my priority because that is the format which is going to give you recognition," Shaheen Afridi told Cricwick.
Shaheen Afridi also refuted criticism about his pace. Concerns have been raised that injuries might have affected his bowling speed. However, the Pakistani fast bowler insists his speed remains unchanged.
"I don't think my pace has dropped. I got a bit quicker in 2021. However, if you even see my debut, I've always clocked around 140 kmph with the new ball. Everyone will praise you when you pick wickets, and when you don't, people will try to pinpoint negative things," Afridi concluded.
Things haven't gone according to plan for Shaheen Afridi and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. While Afridi has only taken two wickets in three matches, Pakistan have won just one game out of three they have played so far which has pushed them on the verge of early elimination. Afridi and his team face a must-win situation in their final group game against Ireland on June 16 to keep their hopes of reaching the Super 8s alive.
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