1992 World Cup winner Wasim Akram had harsh words for left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi after he was dropped from Pakistan playing XI for the 3rd and final test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday. Captain Shan Masood had stated that Afridi was given rest during the last Test to manage his workload, but Akram believes that was not actually the case.
Wasim Akram while speaking to Fox Cricket on the morning of Day 1 stated that it was not a decision taken by the management or the coaching staff but in fact it was Shaheen Afridi’s own decision not to participate after Pakistan lost the two first tests in Perth. and Melbourne.
Shaheen Afridi claims he bowled too many overs and needed rest
In the first Test, a first innings masterclass from David Warner laid the foundation for an excellent Australian victory by 360 runs in a match which saw Shaheen Afridi bowl a combined total of 46 with dismal figures of 2 wickets while conceding 96 runs and 76. runs respectively in both innings.
In the second Test, Shaheen Afridi was even tougher, bowling 27 overs in the first innings and picking 2 wickets for 85 runs. In the third innings, he would bowl another 27 overs, and this time he took 4 wickets at a similar economy rate. Midway through Day 1 at SCG, he was asked why he did not participate and claimed that his body had been through too much while he played too many overs at Perth and MCG and claimed that the medical team decided to manage his work. . burden.
🗣️ “I played two matches and to be honest, a lot of overs. They are just managing my workload, the medical team and the team management decided to take a break for this (test).”@copes9 Chats with Shaheen Afridi about the decision not to play at the SCG and much more #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/VuNCaIeB1K
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 3, 2024
“I played two matches and, to be honest, a lot of overs. “They are simply managing my workload, the medical team and the team management decided to take a break for this Game.” – said Afridi.
‘Cricket players should know that Test cricket is the last thing,’ says Wasim Akram on Shaheen Afridi’s absence
Only a handful of people will know that the last time Pakistan won a Test match in Australia in 1995, Wasim Akram captained the team that won by 74 runs. Since then, the Men in Green have been yearning for a victory in the Land Down Under and the 3rd test that has already begun could be a perfect opportunity to repeat history.
But there is a big difference in the quality and character of this team compared to the legend-filled team that won in 1995. Even if Pakistan wanted to avoid the whitewash, the absence of Shaheen Afridi makes it even more difficult as he did not another bowler in the team has that experience.
While talking to Fox Cricket, Wasim Akram claimed that Shaheen Afridi himself pulled out of the Test because he will be captaining the national team in an upcoming 5-match T20I series in New Zealand, which Akram believes is very irrelevant and stated that it is It confuses the mentality of the players, whether they want to become a legend of the game or just want big deals of money in their pocket.
“Right after that there are five T20s in New Zealand and Shaheen is the captain. But T20 cricket, who cares? I understand, it is there to entertain and to make financial gains for the cricket boards, for the players, but cricketers should know that Test cricket is the ultimate.” – added Wasim Akram.
“If we talk about what happened 20 years ago in this Test in Sydney, nobody knows what happened last night in the T20. That is the difference. These guys have to understand and learn if you want to be a great player or if you want to be a millionaire. You can become both but with a little more common sense.” – concluded Wasim Akram.