Ahead of the second Test between England and Pakistan, the exclusion of key players Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah from Pakistan’s squad has raised many eyebrows. Pakistan, coming off an embarrassing innings defeat in the first Test, made the controversial decision to rest the trio for the remainder of the series. This bold move came after a shake-up in the team’s management following the Multan Test loss.
England captain Ben Stokes, returning from injury to lead his side, was asked about Pakistan’s decision to exclude their star players. Stokes, however, remained unfazed, offering a brief but pointed response: “That’s Pakistan cricket’s issue, nothing to do with me.”
Rested, Not Dropped: Pakistan’s Explanation
Pakistan assistant coach Azhar Mahmood clarified that the trio—Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem—have not been dropped but rested. Mahmood stated that the team’s management is focused on preserving these players’ fitness for the upcoming white-ball tours to Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
“Babar is our No. 1 player in terms of technique and ability. Pakistan has so much cricket coming up that the selection committee decided to give him a rest,” Mahmood explained, emphasizing the heavy schedule Pakistan faces over the next six months. Mahmood also defended the decision to rest Shaheen and Naseem, noting the necessity of managing the workload of these key players.
Skepticism Over the Decision
Despite Mahmood’s reasoning, there is widespread skepticism about the move. Critics argue that winning a Test series against England at home should be a top priority, especially given Pakistan’s struggles in recent years. Pakistan has not won a Test series at home since early 2021, and a defeat in the second Test would result in consecutive home series losses to England. Additionally, the decision comes in the wake of Pakistan’s first-ever innings defeat despite scoring over 500 runs in the first innings, making the exclusion of these star players even more puzzling.
With high stakes in the second Test, Pakistan’s decision to rest their three most prominent players has sparked intense debate, but for Ben Stokes, it remains an issue for Pakistan cricket to resolve.
