After a surprising 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan is set to face Shanto’s side again in the second Test, starting on Friday (August 30) at the same venue. On the eve of this decisive match, Pakistan announced a 12-man squad on X, notably excluding their lead pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, who recently became a father, led Pakistan’s pace attack in the first Test, taking two wickets. However, he has been left out of the squad for the second Test. In his place, pacer Mir Hamza and spinner Abrar Ahmed have been included.
🚨 Pakistan's 12 for the second Test 🚨#PAKvBAN | #TestOnHai pic.twitter.com/9TprXzdzjx
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 29, 2024
It remains unclear whether Shaheen has been dropped or rested. The left-arm pacer, Pakistan’s all-time leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship, also missed the third Test against Australia in Sydney in January 2024.
Pakistan’s strategy of playing four seamers in the first Test against Bangladesh didn’t work, raising the likelihood of Abrar Ahmed’s inclusion in the playing XI for the second Test. It will be interesting to see if Khurram Shehzad and Mohammad Ali retain their spots, or if one will make way for Hamza.
Naseem Shah is expected to be in the playing XI, leading the attack for the Shan Masood-led side. After their first-ever Test loss to Bangladesh, Pakistan will be eager to deliver a strong performance in the second Test to avoid the embarrassment of losing the series.
What do you think, will Bangladesh repeat what it did in the first test match?
