In a surprising decision, Pakistan's management has opted to drop their star fast bowler, Shaheen Afridi, from the squad for the second Test against Bangladesh.
The decision follows Pakistan's crushing 10-wicket defeat in the first Test, where Afridi struggled to find his form. He managed just 2 wickets for 88 runs in 30 overs during the first innings and went wicketless in his brief two-over spell in the second innings.
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Salman Butt backs Pakistan's decision to drop Shaheen Afridi
The management's choice to drop Afridi has sparked discussions, with former Pakistan captain Salman Butt backing the decision.
Butt pointed out the challenges that Shaheen Afridi has faced in his recent performances, particularly in red-ball cricket.
He highlighted that Afridi has been struggling with his rhythm, unable to find the right line and length consistently.
"Considering his form, experience with the red ball, and the challenges he's faced over time, it's evident that Shaheen is struggling. There's no rhythm, his line and length have been off, and he's been bowling full tosses more often than not," Butt noted.
Is the lack of early wickets leading to Shaheen Afridi's frustration?
Butt noted that Shaheen's impatience and frustration have become apparent when he doesn’t get early wickets.
This impatience leads to inconsistency in his bowling, with Afridi often resorting to bowling full tosses and changing tactics mid-over.
"In Test cricket, patience is a key trait of great fast bowlers. When Shaheen doesn't take early wickets, he seems to get frustrated, leading to erratic bowling, like switching to round-the-wicket or delivering bouncers," Butt added.
Is Shaheen Afridi’s technique affecting his performance?
Butt further delved into Afridi’s technical issues, suggesting that his incomplete follow-through and lack of rhythm are affecting his overall performance.
Butt emphasized that these technical flaws, including the underutilization of his non-bowling arm and an incomplete action, are visible to opponents and should be addressed by the coaching staff.
"When he takes the run up and comes into his delivery stride, the follow-through stops immediately after the delivery is bowled. The non-bowling arm is not being fully used," said Butt.
As Pakistan heads into the second Test, all eyes will be on how they adjust their strategy without Shaheen Afridi.
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