In a decision that’s making waves in the cricket world, Pakistan has chosen to rest three of its biggest stars—Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, and Naseem Shah—for the rest of the Test series against England. The move has sparked debate, with many questioning whether Pakistan can afford to bench such key players amid their struggles. But guess who’s on board with this? The legendary Shahid Afridi! 👀🔥
💬 Afridi’s Take
Afridi, who’s not only a former captain but also Shaheen’s father-in-law (talk about keeping it in the family!), took to X to support the call. He said:
“Supporting the selectors’ decision to give Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem a break from international cricket. This move not only helps protect and extend the careers of these champion players but also gives a great opportunity to test and groom emerging talent, building strong bench strength for the future.”
Afridi’s cool with the rest, and honestly, he’s making a solid point. 🌟 This could be a blessing in disguise for Pakistan cricket, giving the team a chance to test out fresh faces while ensuring the superstars don’t burn out. 😎
🏏 A Big Call as Pakistan Struggles
Pakistan’s decision comes right after a rough first Test against England, where despite scoring over 500 in the first innings, they were handed a crushing defeat by an innings! 😲 To make matters worse, it’s the first time in Test history that a team has lost by an innings after putting up such a massive score. 🤯
📉 The Reasoning Behind It
According to Azhar Mahmood, Pakistan’s assistant coach, the call to rest these stars is all about longevity. 🧠💪
- Naseem Shah is dealing with some niggling injuries 🤕
- Shaheen has been carrying a massive workload 🏋️♂️
- And Babar—well, the guy needs a mental reset 🧠 after a rough patch recently.
Mahmood emphasized that the decision also considers Pakistan’s upcoming packed cricket schedule, including tours to Australia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. 🗺️ So yeah, resting these players now could keep them in top shape for those challenges ahead.
⚡️ A Strategic Move for the Future?
With an intense cricket calendar ahead, this could be a genius move by the selectors. It gives Pakistan’s younger talent a chance to shine while ensuring their top guns stay sharp for the big games ahead. 🌟💥
Pakistan fans, what do you think? Is this the right call, or is the team in for some more rough Test matches without their top players? 👀