Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi is set to make a comeback to Pakistan’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match away series against Sri Lanka in July. The national selection committee has included Shaheen in the squad after he spent over a year out of the Test team due to an unfortunate injury.
What Shaheen Afridi needs to do to regain his fitness?
Haroon Rasheed, Pakistan’s chief selector, explained that the 23-year-old cricketer needs more active participation in matches to regain his match fitness. Rasheed emphasized the importance of match fitness compared to simply practising in the nets, stating that playing matches provides a different level of physical readiness.
Considering Shaheen’s injury history, the selection committee has also requested the county to allow him to play in a three-day match. This would provide him with more overs to bowl and further aid his recovery and preparation for the upcoming Test series. The decision to include Shaheen in the squad was made after careful research and consideration of workload management.
Shaheen Afridi has been a standout performer for Pakistan, with just one wicket away from reaching a century of Test wickets. Since making his debut on December 3, 2018, he has been the most successful bowler for Pakistan in terms of wickets taken.
Expressing his excitement, Shaheen shared his pleasure at returning to the Pakistan Test side after a year-long absence. He expressed his deep affection for Test cricket and acknowledged the challenges he faced being away from the format.
The Pakistan team will gather in Karachi on July 3 for a training camp before their departure to Sri Lanka on July 9. The detailed schedule of the tour will be announced by Sri Lanka Cricket in the near future. Pakistan and Sri Lanka last faced each other in a Test series in July 2022, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
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