After a disappointing performance in the first Test, Pakistan have dropped left-arm fast-bowler Shaheen Shah from their 12-man probable team for the second Test against Bangladesh. In his place, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed and left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza have been included in the squad. This decision comes after Shaheen received some feedback on his bowling and has been given leave to spend time with his family. Meanwhile, Pakistan's spin options have been strengthened with the inclusion of Abrar in the squad.
Despite Bangladesh's lead in the two-match series, a historic 10-wicket win, the opening day of the second test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh was washed out due to persistent rain. Both teams are in the bottom half of the World Test Championship standings and Pakistan has not won a home test since December 2021. Pakistan has dropped Shaheen Shah Afridi and named Mir Hamza and Abrar Ahmed in their 12-man squad.
Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi and his wife Ansha welcomed their first child over the weekend. Despite being on the field for a Test match against Bangladesh, Afridi couldn't contain his emotions and celebrated his first wicket after becoming a father in a special way. Mushfiqur Rahim's brilliant batting for Bangladesh puts them in a good position for a potential victory over Pakistan in the first Test.
After a strong declaration from Pakistan, Bangladesh started their first innings on Day 2 of the 1st Test in Rawalpindi cautiously. Despite losing early wickets, they managed to end the day at 27/0, trailing behind Pakistan's mammoth 448 runs. Pakistan's pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah kept a tight grip on the Bangladeshi batsmen, who now face a huge challenge in the remainder of the match. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan fell just short of a double century, with a strong partnership with Saud Shakeel laying the foundation for their impressive score.
After announcing his retirement from T20I cricket, Virat Kohli delivers a stunning performance to secure India's first T20 World Cup title in 2024. Shaheen Shah Afridi praises Kohli's match-winning knock, highlighting a moment where he hit an unbelievable six off Haris Rauf's best delivery. Rohit Sarkar, an experienced and passionate cricket writer, captures the excitement and drama of Kohli's innings, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest T20 players of all time.
Pakistan's batsmen Shakeel and Rizwan performed exceptionally on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh, helping their team end the day at a respectable 304-4. Despite facing some tough challenges from the Bangladeshi bowlers, the duo showed resolve and skill to keep scoring runs, with both players inching closer to scoring individual centuries. Unfortunately, Bangladesh suffered a setback as batsman Mahmudul Hasan Joy sustained a groin injury during a four-day match against Pakistan Shaheens, further diminishing their chances of winning the Test match.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has declined the NOC requests of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi to participate in the Global T20 Canada 2024 season. Considering their busy international calendar, including nine ICC World Test Championship matches and the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the board has decided to prioritize their workload management and have them available for future contests. However, the board has allowed white-ball specialists Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed and Asif Ali to participate in the event.
Sources reveal that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is contemplating resting some senior players, including Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, for the upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh. The decision will be finalized after consultation with Test captain Shan Masood, who is currently captaining Yorkshire, and new red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie. The PCB will also seek advice from white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten for their plans for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
After a video of Pakistani cricketer Haris Rauf arguing with a fan went viral on social media, the pacer has released a statement addressing the incident. Rauf, supported by fellow cricketers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali, condemned the use of disrespectful language and urged fans to be constructive in their criticism. The incident occurred while Rauf was out with his family, and he emphasized the importance of showing respect towards players and their families. This incident comes after Pakistan's early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup, which has put the team and players under scrutiny.
Despite being eliminated from the tournament, Pakistan's pace duo Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Amir shone with the ball as they restricted Ireland to 106 runs and secured a three-wicket win. The win proved to be a consolation for Pakistan who were already out of the race, with India and USA progressing from their group.