Shocking Decision! Why Did Pakistan Drop Shaheen Afridi in the 5th T20I vs New Zealand?
Shaheen Afridi was dropped for the 5th T20I after a poor series, managing just 2 wickets in 4 matches with an economy of nearly 11. His struggles continued after a disappointing Champions Trophy. Pakistan made bold changes, also dropping Abrar Ahmed as Sufiyan Muqeem came in. Agha Salman led the side in the must-win clash.
For the 5th T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand, Pakistan made a bold move by dropping star pacer Shaheen Afridi due to his poor form. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first, but the absence of Shaheen surprised many. In the series, Shaheen managed just 2 wickets in 4 matches, conceding runs at an economy rate of nearly 11 per over. His lack of pace and penetration allowed New Zealand batters to target him easily, turning him into the weak link of Pakistan’s bowling attack.
After a disappointing Champions Trophy where Shaheen also took only 2 wickets, his struggle continued against New Zealand. While Haris Rauf picked wickets regularly, Shaheen failed to create pressure, forcing the team management to drop him. Pakistan also replaced spinner Abrar Ahmed with Sufiyan Muqeem for this final game.
Playing XI for Pakistan:
Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Agha Salman (c), Usman Khan, Shadab Khan (vc), Muhammad Abdul Samad, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Ali.
With the series slipping away, Pakistan made these changes in search of better performance and balance. The management hopes the new players step up as they aim to end the series on a positive note.
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