"You might not have seen me with the team now" - Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi on why he did not play in the Sydney Test vs Australia
Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi was rested for the team's third and final Test of the three-match away from home series against Australia in January. The left-arm seamer was slammed by many for not playing the Test.
Shaheen clarified that he did not skip the Sydney Test. The 24-year-old stated that the team management decided to rest him because of stiffness in his back and knees.
The star bowler suggested that if he had played the Test, he might have had to remain on the sidelines for a while due to injury.
During an interview with Cricwick, Shaheen said (at 6:02 in the video):
"I did not skip that Test match. It was the decision of the team management and medical pannel because there was a lot of T20 cricket ahead. It was their way of managing my workload.
"If I had played that match, you might not have seen me with the team now, as my back and knees had become very stiff. Test cricket has always been my priority because that is the format which is going to give you recognition."
Australia won the Sydney Test by eight wickets to complete a series whitewash over Pakistan. Shaheen Afridi did a decent job, picking up eight wickets across four innings and was the Men in Green's second-highest wicket-taker in the series.
"I don't think my pace has dropped" - Shaheen Afridi on his bowling speed
Several experts have suggested that injury scares have led to a drop in Shaheen Afridi's bowling speed. However, the fast bowler doesn't seem to agree with the comments.
He mentioned that his pace with the new ball has always been around the 140 kmph mark. Speaking about his pace, Shaheen said (at 2:21):
"I don't think my pace has dropped. I got a bit quicker in 2021. However, if you even see my debut, I've always clocked around 140 kmph with the new ball. Everyone will praise you when you pick wickets, and when you don't, people will try to pinpoint negative things."
Shaheen Afridi is currently part of Pakistan's squad in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup. He has claimed two scalps from three outings at an economy rate of 6.91.
The Babar Azam-led side have just a solitary win from three games and are placed third in the points table of Group A. They take on Ireland at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida, on Sunday, June 16.