Former Pakistan fast bowling duo Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis have blasted the decision to drop Shaheen Afridi from the playing XI ahead of the third and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Pakistan were no match for the hosts in the previous two Tests, losing the first Test by 360 runs and then the second Test by 79 runs.
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Shaheen was ordinary in the first Test, picking up just a wicket each in both innings. His performance, however, improved in the second Test as he picked up six wickets.
Now, though, he won't be featuring in the Sydney Test. which has drawn some severe criticism of the player from the likes of Akram.
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What did Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis say about Shaheen Afridi?
Speaking on the Fox Cricket Broadcast, Akram claimed that it wasn't the team management's decision to rest Shaheen but the player's call himself.
Straight after this there are five T20s in New Zealand, and Shaheen's the captain. But T20 cricket, who cares? I understand, it's there for entertainment and it's there for financial gain for cricket boards, for players, but cricketers should know that Test cricket is the ultimate.
If we talk about what happened 20 years ago in this Test in Sydney, nobody knows what happened last night in T20. That's the difference. These guys have to understand and learn, if you want to be a great of the game or do you want to be a millionaire. You can become both but with a little more sense.
Younis shared Akram's sentiments and said that Shaheen should have played the third Test, especially after getting the rhythm right in the second match.
That's a real shocker for me because I was expecting him to be a part of this Test match because he looked good in the previous match. He started feeling like the old Shaheen Afridi and started to swing the ball and the pace was getting better.
What next for Shaheen Afridi?
Shaheen is set to lead the Pakistan T20I side during their tour of New Zealand, in which the two sides will take part in a five-match T20I series from January 12 to 21.
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