Pakistan’s team management has excluded star pacer Shaheen Afridi from the 12-man squad for the upcoming second Test against Bangladesh.
The squad, announced on Thursday, includes Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saud Shakeel, Abrar Ahmed, Muhammad Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Abdullah Shafique, and Khurram Shehzad.
Pakistan, reeling from a crushing 10-wicket defeat in the first Test, will be looking to bounce back and level the series.
The omission of Shaheen Afridi, one of Pakistan’s key bowlers, raises eyebrows, particularly after the team’s poor performance in the first match.
Shaheen’s absence suggests Pakistan might be looking to shake up its strategy, possibly giving opportunities to the likes of Mir Hamza and Khurram Shehzad to make an impact.
Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hasan Shanto, made history with their first-ever Test victory over Pakistan. The win has given Bangladesh significant momentum, and they will be eager to seal the series in the second Test.
Pakistan’s captain, Shan Masood, now faces the challenge of rallying his team to overcome this setback and avoid a series loss against a determined Bangladeshi side. The second Test is poised to be a crucial encounter for both teams.
Pakistan 12-Man Squad:
| Shan Masood (c) | Saud Shakeel (vc) | Babar Azam | Salman Ali Agha | Khurram Shehzad |
| Abrar Ahmed | Abdullah Shafique | Mir Hamza | Naseem Shah | Mohammad Rizwan (wk) |
| Saim Ayub | Mohammad Ali |
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