In the opening Test of Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Shaheen Afridi managed to claim two wickets in the first innings but conceded 88 runs. His breakthrough came late in the innings, as he dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz and sent Hasan Mahmud back for a duck after 18 balls.
Shaheen’s recent form has been on the decline, a trend that began during the T20 World Cup earlier this year. The 24-year-old struggled throughout the tournament, finishing with just five wickets in four matches and an average of 21.00.
Basit Ali Suggests Shaheen Shah Afridi To Take Rest
“Shaheen Afridi should be rested 100 per cent. He should go and play first-class cricket. He should be rested. Ali S put in a lot of effort. Pakistan failed in bowling, fielding and batting. They beat us in all departments. It is wrong to say that the team had a bad day,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.
Basit Ali believes Shaheen Afridi should be given a rest following his disappointing performance in the 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the opening Test.
He clearly suggested that Shaheen Afridi should go play first-class cricket, A little time of rest will help him revamp and introspect which will definitely enhance his game.
Pakistan’s Upsetting Defeat Against Bangladesh
As Pakistan grappled with their shortcomings, Bangladesh savored a historic achievement. Their recent victory marked a significant milestone, breaking a long-standing pattern of defeat against Pakistan. Out of 14 previous encounters, Bangladesh had faced 12 losses and managed only one draw.
With this win, Bangladesh has now only India and South Africa left to conquer in Test cricket. Although the match was delayed initially due to a wet outfield, it evolved into a thrilling spectacle by the fifth day.
The commanding 10-wicket victory has propelled Bangladesh up the ICC World Test Championship standings, moving them to sixth place and leveling with Sri Lanka on point percentage. Conversely, Pakistan’s defeat has dropped them to eighth place with a 30.56 point percentage. As Pakistan seeks to level the series after trailing 1-0, they will face Bangladesh in the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on August 30.
