Aqib Javed explains Shaheen Afridi's Test squad omission

LAHORE: Pakistan men's National Selection Committee member Aqib Javed has clarified the reasoning behind Shaheen Shah Afridi's omission from the Test squad, insisting the decision was based on conditions and format-specific planning rather than a reflection of the left-arm pacer's ability.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced squads for the upcoming Test tours of the West Indies and England, with Shaheen among the notable absentees.

Speaking to the media following the squad announcement, Aqib stressed that the national selection committee assesses players on a tour-by-tour basis and that no selection decision should be viewed as determining a player's long-term future.

"You make selections from tour to tour, and no selector or individual can decide someone's career or future," Aqib said.

He explained that the decision was influenced by the conditions expected during the two overseas assignments, with the selectors believing the team required greater pace following Pakistan's most recent Test series.

"After the last Test series, we felt that we needed more pace, which is why this squad has been selected for the West Indies and England tours," he said.

The 53-year-old also dismissed the notion that a player's inclusion or omission should be viewed as permanent, maintaining that competition for places remains open.

"The players who have been left out will also have to perform to earn their place again. We cannot guarantee that because these bowlers have been picked now, they will continue playing for the next five years. It all depends on the conditions," he added.

Despite Shaheen's omission, the former pacer reaffirmed the fast bowler's standing within Pakistan cricket, describing him as one of the country's leading pacers. 

He also suggested that workload management and format priorities play an important role in selection decisions.

According to Aqib, players must decide which format they intend to prioritise, while the PCB's recently introduced format-based central contracts are designed to encourage greater commitment to specific formats and help players produce improved performances for Pakistan.

"Shaheen is an outstanding bowler. At times, you have to assess which format of cricket you want to focus on and where your greater interest lies," Aqib explained.

"To address all these aspects, we recently introduced the idea of central contracts based on different formats. If a player is not focusing enough on a particular format, we will try to encourage them to increase their focus so they can deliver better performances for Pakistan," he concluded.