"He is playing in this joke cup" - Basit Ali on Shaheen Afridi's participation in Pakistan's Champions One-Day Cup 2024
Pakistan's pace bowling spearhead Shaheen Afridi is captaining the Lions team in the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup 2024. However, former Pakistani batter Basit Ali has termed the domestic tournament as a 'joke cup'.
Basit opined that while Shaheen was available for the Champions One-Day Cup, there is a chance that he will be dropped from the upcoming three-match home Test series against England, citing workload management. He also suggested that the left-arm pacer's words weren't taken seriously by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the 'connection camp' meeting on Monday, September 23.
Speaking on his official YouTube channel, the cricketer-turned-expert said (from 6:18):
"Whatever Shaheen Afridi said, it was heard from one ear and removed from the other. There is a possibility that Shaheen Afridi won't be part of the Test team for the England series. They will say that he hasn't been picked due to workload management. However, he is playing in this joke cup and there is still one match left."
Shaheen's form has come under the scanner following a string of underwhelming performances in international cricket. He was even left out of the playing XI in Pakistan's second Test of their two-match series against Bangladesh earlier this month.
"You’re bound to wear him down eventually" - When Gary Kirsten spoke about Shaheen Afridi's excessive workload
Pakistan's white-ball coach Gary Kirsten believes that it is important to manage the workload of Shaheen Afridi. He pointed out that the seamer has bowled a lot of overs in the past year and a half.
Speaking to the media, Kirsten said earlier this month (via cricketpakistan.com.pk):
"Shaheen has bowled three times more overs than any other fast bowler in the world over the last 18 months. That's alarming — you’re bound to wear him down eventually."
Shaheen is the leading wicket-taker for the Lions in the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup 2024, bagging nine wickets from four outings. The Lions will take on Stallions in the Eliminator on Wednesday, September 25, in Faisalabad.