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Pakistan Might Rest Shaheen Afridi In Sydney Test For 'This' Shocking Reason

image-lqgh248xShaheen Afridi (Twitter)

Pakistan are considering rest for spearhead pacer Shaheen Afridi for the third and final Test of the marquee series against Australia to keep him fresh for the T20I assignment in New Zealand as the new skipper and lead bowler. 

Criticised for debutant seamer Khurram Shahzad developing a rib injury, which has put the young cricketer in doubt for the Boxing Day Test at MCG after taking a fifer in Perth, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is keen to avoid further criticism and negativity by ensuring Shaheen isn't overly fatigued amidst a busy schedule. 



The tall seamer delivered 27 overs for 1/96 in the Australian first-innings and then another 18.2 overs for 1/76 in the second half of Pakistan's bitter loss in the first Test. The team management and selectors feel in the likelihood of Shaheen undergoing another strenuous Test on his body, he should be given a breather from the New Year's Test at SCG. 

Pakistan To Rest Shaheen At SCG 

A super quick turnaround would've perhaps encouraged PCB to go down this path as the final Test begins on January 3, only three days after the MCG fixture is scheduled to conclude on December 30 while the five-match T20I series across the Tasman sea kickstarts on January 12. 

"The backlash the board and management is facing over the handling of Khurrum's workload has set off panic buttons, plus the form of Shaheen has added to the concerns of the team management and selectors," a source privy to the developments was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. 

"It is in the pipeline that if Shaheen doesn't do well in Melbourne Test and the team ends up on the losing side, he will be rested for the final Test so that he is fresh for the T20I series in New Zealand," the source added. 

It is understood the Shaheen issue is a concern for PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, who is monitoring the developments closely, hoping the pacer doesn't suffer the same fate as another young pacer Naseem Shah, who has been recovering from shoulder surgery since the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in September.