Babar Azam’s Inclusion and Shaheen Afridi’s Exclusion Fuel Selection Controversy for South Africa Tour
Former cricketer Basit Ali has voiced concerns over the inclusion of Babar Azam and the exclusion of Shaheen Shah Afridi from Pakistan’s squad for the South Africa tour. Ali questions Babar’s recent performance and highlights a controversial incident involving Afridi that may have affected his selection. The squad is set to start competing on December 10.
In a recent development regarding the Pakistan cricket team’s squad selection for the upcoming tour of South Africa, former cricketer Basit Ali has raised concerns over the inclusion of Babar Azam while questioning the absence of star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi. The series, consisting of multiple formats, is scheduled to commence on December 10 in Durban. Babar Azam, who was dropped from the Test team during the series against England, makes a comeback, while Afridi remains sidelined, leading to criticism of the selection committee’s decisions.
Basit Ali expressed his disapproval on his YouTube channel, pointing to a controversial incident involving Afridi that may have influenced the selection. During Pakistan’s first Test against Bangladesh, Afridi appeared to dismiss skipper Shan Masood’s gesture during a team huddle, which generated negative attention. “Shaheen Afridi was asked to bowl on dead pitches, and he couldn’t perform so what about Naseem Shah’s performance?” Basit stated, emphasizing the perceived inconsistency in player performance evaluations.
Additionally, he challenged Babar’s return based on his recent form since being dropped, questioning his suitability for inclusion in the Test squad. “When Babar was dropped from the Test team, on what performance did he return to the team?” Basit queried, highlighting Babar’s modest performance statistics in recent matches.
Pakistan’s squads for the South Africa tour, featuring Babar Azam and the absence of Shaheen Afridi in the Test format, have sparked significant debate among fans and analysts alike.
The selection of cricket teams, particularly for international tours, often leads to debates regarding player performances, discipline, and team dynamics. In this instance, Pakistan’s squad selection for the tour of South Africa has arisen concerns, particularly with Babar Azam’s return and Shaheen Afridi’s exclusion. The context includes Afridi’s earlier performance issues and a controversial team incident that may have influenced selection decisions, while Babar Azam’s recent struggles in limited formats have raised questions about his readiness to return to Test cricket.
In summary, the selection of the Pakistan cricket team for the South Africa tour has generated significant discussions, especially regarding Babar Azam’s reinstatement and Shaheen Afridi’s removal from the Test side. Basit Ali’s criticisms highlight potential inconsistencies in player evaluations and the impact of off-field behavior on team dynamics. As the series approaches, these discussions may influence public perception and team morale.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com
