Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed addressed the absence of pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Test lineup, citing a lack of domestic four-day cricket as the reason behind the decision. Afridi, a key figure in Pakistan’s all-format setup, last played a Test during the heavy defeat to England in Multan, where Pakistan conceded a staggering 823 runs in an innings.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the second Test against West Indies in Multan, Aaqib said, "If you're playing all three formats, then in one series you're bowling in Tests, where you need to bowl 25-30 overs, and then for three months, you're not playing any four-day games. This is why fast bowlers' energy levels drop when you need them to bowl to the tail-enders after sending down 20-25 overs in a day."
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Defending the move, Aaqib added, "If Shaheen played in Cape Town, Mohammad Abbas would not have played. Abbas was playing after three years, and because of him, the match reached an interesting end." He stressed that bowlers must balance their participation in leagues and four-day matches to maintain the stamina required for Test cricket.
"If they can play leagues before Test matches, they also need to play four-day cricket to ensure their stamina is of that level."
The head coach also responded to criticism over Pakistan's spin-friendly pitches, which played a significant role in their 127-run victory in the first Test. Spinners Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Abrar Ahmed took all 20 wickets, showcasing Pakistan's home advantage. "The rule of Test cricket is to win at home. If you win at home and manage a few away victories, you become a strong candidate for the World Test Championship final," Aaqib explained.
He defended the strategy further, saying, "Every country prepares pitches according to their advantage to win matches. I don't understand the problem with spin-friendly wickets. If pace bowlers take wickets, people say cricket is progressing. If spinners take wickets, they say cricket is regressing. I don't understand this."
As the second Test began in Multan on Saturday, Pakistan, leading 1-0 in the two-match series, handed a debut to pacer Kashif Ali, while West Indies brought in Kemar Roach to replace the injured Jayden Seales. Both teams aim to finish the ICC World Test Championship cycle on a high, with Pakistan ranked eighth and West Indies ninth in the standings.
