‘My priority has always been Test cricket’ - Shaheen Afridi answers recent backlash regarding sitting out of Sydney Test

Pakistan decided to give rest to Shaheen Shah Afridi from the third Test against Australia, which the visiting team eventually lost by eight wickets. Right after the first Test in Perth, the team management made it clear that the pacer would be given a break if they lost the second match in Melbourne. However, the cricketer faced a lot of backlash from former cricketers like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis as they expected Shaheen to feature, especially when Pakistan were 2-0 down in the series.

Reflecting upon that, Shaheen explained that the team management took the decision to manage his workload. He added that Test cricket has always been his first priority and if the series was on the line, he would have featured in the XI.

“I am completely fit so there are no problems with that. I had bowled a bit too much in the first two Tests and there was so much fatigue that the team management and the medical panel wanted to avoid any chance of an injury. Even if there was a chance of a series win and I was 50-50, I would have played because country comes first. My priority has always been Test cricket,” Afridi said while interacting during the press conference.

There might be some changes, or maybe not: Shaheen

As per reports, Pakistan are likely to change their opening combination in the T20I series against New Zealand, as Mohammad Rizwan is expected to open alongside Saim Ayub. Skipper Shaheen however kept the door open for Babar to make his return in the future.

“Babar and Rizwan will always be the best opening pair for Pakistan. I think we have 17 matches before the World Cup, and we should try different combinations and try to figure out which player fits in which position and we will try to play them [in that position]. There might be some changes, or maybe not. But the effort will be to have the team combination ready before England tour. In the four T20s against England before T20 World Cup, we should know our best playing XI,” Shaheen concluded.