Shan Masood Was Against Dropping Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi And Naseem Shah Withdrew Names to Avoid 'Embarrassment'

Pakistan tweaked their squad for the second and third Test of the ongoing three-match series against England at home. They pulled up a surprise by announcing that star cricketers including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah along with former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed have been “rested” for the remainder of the series.

Also Read: Babar, Afridi Dropped For 2nd And 3rd England Tests

PCB selector Aaqib Javed explained the big calls in a statement on Sunday claiming the four players have been rested given their current form and fitness status and keeping an eye on Pakistan’s future assignments.

However, if a report from news agency PTI is to be believed, the decision wasn’t as straightforward as it appears from the PCB release. Citing sources, PTI claims that Pakistan captain Shan Masood, coach Jason Gillespie and two two PCB mentors were against dropping Babar from the Test squad.

However, the new selectors that include former fast bowler Aaqib Javed and retired umpire Aleem Dar felt it was time for Babar to be sidelined due to his poor form and lack of confidence.

On the other hand, the report further claims that the duo of Shaheen and Naseem may have withdrawn their names citing niggles to avoid the embarrassment of being dropped.

“Both of them told the selectors they should be withdrawn from the two Tests,” the PCB source told PTI. “Perhaps these two had come to know they were going to be dropped so decided to withdraw themselves to save themselves from embarrassment”

Babar has struggled with poor form since early 2023, particularly in Test matches, where he has yet to score a half-century in his last 18 innings.

Since the start of 2023, he has averaged just under 21 in nine Test matches, while Shaheen has also faced difficulties with form, being rested or dropped for the second Test against Bangladesh last month and for the final Test in Sydney in January.

It is also learnt that the captain and coach were not part of a meeting held by the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi with the selectors and five mentors — Misbah ul Haq, Shoaib Malik, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq and Sarfaraz Ahmed — to discuss the selection of the Test squad on Saturday in Multan.

With PTI Inputs