Shaheen Afridi set to be dropped for upcoming Bangladesh tour after misconduct in training - Reports
Pakistan speedster Shaheen Afridi could be reprimanded by the PCB after details of his reported inappropriate behavior against coaches have come to light. As a result, the left-arm pacer could find himself dropped from the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh.
Reports earlier emerged that the coaches and management were upset with Afridi's demeanor after an incident involving assistant coach Azhar Mahmood. A recent report by Cricket Pakistan sheds the finer details behind another incident involving Afridi and a member of the coaching staff.
During the tour of England preceding the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afridi was bowling in the nets at Headingley, and was apparently bowling no balls consistently. Batting coach Mohammad Yousuf pointed out the fact to the pacer, but was met with a blunt reply instead. Afridi reportedly told Yousuf, "Let me practice for now and don’t talk in the middle."
The response triggered a heated exchange between the two, eventually leading to Afridi being reprimanded by the management. The pacer even had to issue an apology in front of the entire team. However, no further action was taken by the team managers, and the matter was considered closed.
Afridi has had a rough year so far, which began with him losing the T20I captaincy after being in charge for only one bilateral series. He accused the PCB of forging quotes in his name and posting it on the official website after Babar Azam was re-appointed as captain.
There have been rumors of a rift between Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam in the lead-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup. All of these issues bubbled up at the World Cup as Pakistan were knocked out in the group stage itself, failing to qualify for the Super 8 stage.
PCB willing to try out domestic talent for Bangladesh tour with Shaheen Afridi and other seniors out of the picture
Apart from Shaheen Afridi's absence, the Men in Green could be without several other senior players for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh. The series marks skipper Shan Masood's first overseas assignment, and the first-ever for new head coach Jason Gillespie.
The PCB wishes to utilize the two matches to try out some talent from the domestic circuit. A training camp in Rawalpindi is slated to be conducted in the coming weeks to help the squad prepare for the assignment.
Pakistan's red-ball series against Bangladesh, part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, is scheduled to begin from August 21.