According to Pakistan’s Men’s National Selection Committee (NSC) member Aaqib Javed the decision to drop Shaheen Shah Afridi from Pakistan’s Test squads for the upcoming tours, which include matches against the West Indies and England, is due to conditions, team needs and long-term workload management and not his performance.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) just announced the squad on Sunday, and there are a few significant omissions, but Afridi’s omission is the most talked about.
After the announcement, speaking to reporters Aaqib said that the selection committee makes the decision on a tour-by-tour basis and that no one decision is final.
Aaqib Javed said “You make decisions from tour to tour and no one selector can determine a player’s future or career”.
Read more: Aaqib Javed defends Babar Azam’s appointment as Pakistan Test captain
Aqib said that the Pakistan selectors favoured more pace after recent tests and that it was believed pace would be required for the expected conditions they would receive in England and the Caribbean.
He said the squad has been selected for the West Indies’ and England’s tour because after the final Test series he felt that Pakistan’s bowling required more pace.
The former pacer also denied that any player’s spot is safe in the squad, saying that those who are not in the squad can get a call-up based on their performance and existing players have to prove their worth.
Aqib said that Afridi was one of the best fast bowlers of Pakistan and the door is open for him to return to the Pakistan Test side if he performs well.
He also emphasised the need for workload management and specialisation of formats, noting the introduction of the format-based central contracts by the PCB.
Players are encouraged to play in the formats in which they are best suited.
Also read: Babar Azam appointed as Pakistan’s new test captain
