Shaheen Shah Afridi, a fast bowler, is likely to be rested for the forthcoming T20 series against South Africa to manage his workload. The decision comes as the selectors prepare to rotate key players ahead of a demanding cricket season. Despite being one of Pakistan’s top performers in the last T20 Asia Cup with 10 wickets, Shaheen may miss the three-match series.
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Pakistan and South Africa are scheduled to play T20 matches on October 28, 31, and November 1. The first game will take hosted in Rawalpindi, with the next two in Lahore. The team announcement is due soon, and speculations indicate that Haris Rauf may also miss the series.
Shadab Khan, an all rounder, has begun training in England following shoulder surgery but is still unfit for South Africa’s matches. He is likely to return to Pakistan later this month to hone his local cricket skills before rejoining the national team for the tri-nation series in November.
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The three-nation series will feature Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, while Afghanistan’s visit to Pakistan is still doubtful. The selectors believe that the brief break will allow Shaheen and Shadab to fully heal before Pakistan’s forthcoming international obligations.
