Shaheen Afridi Prioritizes BPL Stint Over Pakistan Matches, Sparks Debate!

Pakistan fans are quite upset with their star pacer Shaheen Afridi, who has opted out of the Test series against South Africa for workload management but signed up to play in the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) granted Afridi a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to join Fortune Barishal, the reigning BPL champions. The decision has sparked criticism, as fans and experts question the logic of resting Afridi from national duty while allowing him to participate in franchise cricket.

Afridi will play alongside top names such as Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Dawid Malan in the BPL, with the tournament set to begin on December 30. His absence from the Test squad was justified by interim coach Aqib Javed as a strategic move to keep him fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. However, many find this explanation contradictory, considering his BPL involvement.

4th Dec, 2024 – Aaqib Javed said, "Shaheen Afridi's exclusion from the Test squad (for SA series) is a strategic decision to keep him fresh for CT 2025."

18th Dec, 2024 – Fortune Barishal signed Shaheen Afridi for the BPL 2025. pic.twitter.com/9cjvQBr8of

— 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞 (@CallMeSheri1) December 18, 2024

Afridi is currently featuring in Pakistan’s ongoing ODI series against South Africa. In the first ODI, he took 1/46, including the crucial wicket of Heinrich Klaasen, helping Pakistan secure a three-wicket win. Fans now await his performance in the remaining ODIs while debating the impact of his absence on Pakistan’s Test team.