Pakistan star pacer Shaheen Afridi may miss the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh due to the birth of his first child. In February last year, Shaheen married Ansha, and the couple is eagerly awaiting the arrival of their baby.
Why will Shaheen Afridi miss the PAK vs BAN series?
“Shaheen can miss the Bangladesh Test matches due to childbirth. We can give him rest if he wants to stay with his wife till then,” said Pakistan’s red-ball coach Jason Gillespie, as quoted by Geo News.
Recently, Shaheen Afridi has faced scrutiny over reports of alleged misbehaviour towards Pakistan’s coaching staff. These incidents reportedly occurred during Pakistan’s T20I tour of England, prior to the recently concluded T20 World Cup.
What happened between Shaheen and Mohammad Yousuf?
During the T20I tour, Shaheen had a heated exchange with batting coach Mohammad Yousuf. Sources informed Geo News that the pacer and Yousuf exchanged heated words during a training session. The altercation was sparked when Yousuf repeatedly pointed out Shaheen’s no-balls, leading to increasing agitation from the pacer. However, it was reported that Shaheen later apologized to Yousuf for his behaviour.
What did the authorities say?
“Shaheen said to Mohammad Yousuf to let him do what he was doing, and he (Yousuf) should mind his own business,” a source revealed, adding that Yousuf responded by saying he was a coach and was just doing his job. “This was nothing more than a routine case of ‘heat of the moment,’ so the chapter was closed there and then,” the source added.
Multiple sources within the Pakistan cricket team management confirmed to Geo News that the issue was resolved quickly and amicably. The incident highlights the intense pressures faced by players and coaches, but ultimately, it was seen as a minor and temporary conflict.
