Aqib Javed opens up on Shaheen Shah Afridi's absence from Test team

'If you can play league cricket then you can also play four-day cricket to prepare for Tests,' says Javed

By Web Desk
January 24, 2025
Pakistan's left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi (left) and interim head coach Aqib Javed (right) addressing a press conference in Multan on January 24, 2025. — AFP/PCB

MULTAN: Pakistan’s interim head coach Aqib Javed on Friday, broke silence on ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s prolonged absence from the national Test team.

Shaheen, whose last appearance in the format came in the series opener against England in October, was rested for the recently concluded away Test series against South Africa and the ongoing home assignment against West Indies.

According to the media reports, the left-arm pacer was given rest by the team management to keep him fresh for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, scheduled to run from February 19 to March 9.

However, during his time away from red-ball cricket, Shaheen Afridi represented Fortune Barishal in the ongoing 11th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Meanwhile, Javed, while addressing the pre-match conference at the Multan Cricket Stadium here, termed the lack of four-day cricket exposure as the primary reason behind the left-arm pacer’s absence from the longest format.

The interim head coach acknowledged the packed all-format cricket calendar before advising the players to prioritise red-ball cricket over franchise leagues.

“There is a lot of all-format cricket going around the world. You have to bowl 20-25 overs in a Test. So, if you have not played four-day cricket, the energy levels get too low while bowling against tailenders,” said Javed.

“If Shaheen played in South Africa, Abbas wouldn’t have and he was the reason, we came close to winning.

“If you can play league cricket then you can also play four-day cricket to prepare for Tests.”

Aqib Javed also defended the management’s strategy to prepare spin-friendly pitches for home Tests, highlighting the positive outcomes the move has brought.

He further claimed that if Pakistan had adopted the strategy earlier, they would be in contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

"Why is it that if fast bowlers take wickets, [people say] Test cricket is moving forward, and if spinners take wickets, Test cricket's going backwards?" I don't understand this. When you go to Australia and England, they prepare pitches how they like. So, if we prepare turning wickets and spinners take wickets, what is the problem?

"Of course, we were right to prepare a spin pitch [in the first Test] against West Indies. Their batters are not as proficient against spin when compared to fast bowling. I also want to address concerns about where our Test cricket is going. If we had taken these decisions earlier, then we would have been in the race for the WTC [final]. The rule of Test cricket is to win at home. If you win at home and you win two to three Tests away, you become a strong candidate for the final."

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