Shaheen Afridi to Appear in BPL During Pakistan’s Test Series Against South Africa

Pakistan’s star pacer Shaheen Afridi has decided to appear in the 11th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) after being left out of Pakistan’s test squad which is set to take on South Africa. The 24-year-old has reportedly been signed by defending champions Fortune Barishal, raising questions about his decision to forgo crucial rest period for even more cricket.

Reports confirm that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has granted Shaheen Afridi a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the BPL, but only until January 15, 2025. This means Shaheen will feature in just the first five matches of the tournament, scheduled from December 30, 2024, to February 7, 2025.

Pakistan’s Test cricket calendar is packed during the BPL 2024/25 season. The Men in Green are scheduled to play four Test matches, two away against South Africa and two at home against the West Indies. Interestingly, Shaheen Afridi’s name is absent from the Test squad for the South Africa series despite Pakistan fielding a 5-man pace attack.

Depending on how the team fares against the WTC Final hopefuls, Shaheen will likely also be absent from the team that will host the West Indies.

Pakistan’s slim chances of making the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023-25 might explain the PCB’s decision to grant Shaheen an NOC. With Pakistan hosting the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, Afridi’s workload management could be a strategic move to keep him fresh for the marquee event.

The two-match Test series against the West Indies, starting on January 16, falls immediately after Shaheen’s NOC expires. Whether the PCB will extend his BPL stint or recall him for the red-ball series remains to be seen.