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Team management wanted to rest Shaheen Afridi but he refused

Pacer is keen on regularly stepping on the field despite workload concerns

Team management wanted to rest Shaheen Afridi but he refused PHOTO: AFP

The Pakistan team management was keen on resting pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, during the past few months, but the latter refused to sit on the bench despite workload concerns.

According to sources, Afridi was advised by the management, on more than once occasion, to sit on the sidelines for a few games inorder to ensure that he did not suffer any injury due to playing continuously.

Chief Selector Mohammad Wasim had also advised Shaheen to take some time off from cricket during the last home series against South Africa.

The left-armer performance was also not up to the mark during the recently-concluded tour of South Africa, which once again raised questions marks over his workload management.

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Sources also revealed that Afridi will sit out some games during the upcoming matches against Zimbabwe inorder to give his body some much-needed rest. Bowling coach Waqar Younis, during yesterday’s virtual press conference, had also hinted that youngsters could be given a chance during the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.

 The T20 World Cup is also set to take place, later this year, and coaches don’t want Afridi to face fitness issues in the near future.