Shaheen Afridi dropped from Pakistan playing XI Vs BAN [Source: AFP]In a significant development, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first in the decider of the ongoing two-match Test series against Bangladesh. The Pakistan team management dropped Shaheen Afridi for this game, replacing him with Khurram Shahzad in the playing XI. Led by Shan Masood, Pakistan had a disastrous start to the Test series against Bangladesh, as the Tigers crushed them by 104 runs in the opening encounter. Considering they are on the verge of getting whitewashed, the tourists were expected to field their best possible combination for the second Test. Therefore, Shaheen Afridi's absence from the team sheet grabbed a million eyeballs, raising questions over his place in the Pakistan central contract list, which the PCB will release in a few days. How did Shaheen Afridi perform in BAN Vs PAK 1st Test?Regarded as one of the finest prospects of swing bowling, Shaheen Afridi had a decent outing in the first Test against Bangladesh. The left-arm speedster bagged five wickets while registering a reasonable economy rate of 3.54. He got the prized scalps of Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mushfiqur Rahim in the first innings. The seasoned campaigner also dismissed Mominul Haque and Litton Das at crucial junctures during the second innings. Why is Shaheen Afridi not playing in BAN Vs PAK 2nd Test?Given that Shaheen bowled some really good spells and scalped five wickets, his exclusion from the Pakistan playing XI for 2nd Test against Bangladesh has probably little to do with his form. In fact, Pakistan captain Shan Masood didn't reveal the exact reason why the tourists have dropped their premier fast bowler for the all-important decider. Also Read: Pakistan Squad For New Tournament Announced; No Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi"We have made three changes. Babar comes in for Imam, Sajid Khan comes in for Noman, and Khurram comes in for Shaheen," Shan Masood said at the toss. However, it's worth noting that Shaheen reportedly had a heated argument with Shan Masood after the team's shambolic defeat in the Mirpur Test. According to an exclusive report by Telecom Asia Sport, Masood was unhappy with Shaheen's performance and urged him to put more effort into his bowling. His remarks triggered the fast bowler, who hit back at the skipper, asking him to lead from the front and focus on his own performance. Shan Masood had a forgettable time with the bat in the last Test, managing only 11 runs across two innings. Therefore, it's quite possible that Shaheen has been sidelined from the Test XI due to his recent feud with Masood in the dressing room. Will Shaheen Afridi be removed from PCB central contract?Shaheen Afridi was placed in group B alongside several high-profile names like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan etc. Although his clash with Shan Masood is believed to have led to his removal from the Test XI, Shaheen remains an integral member of Pakistan's white-ball setup. So, considering the Men in Green will begin their preparations for the 2027 World Cup with the upcoming Australia series, Shaheen is expected to spearhead their bowling attack in the home series. A recent report by Geo Super claimed that Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Hussain Talat and Abdullah Shafique are the frontrunners to lose their Pakistan central contract. So, given that Shaheen Afridi has been a match-winner for the team in ODIs and T20Is, it's highly unlikely that the PCB will remove him from the central contract list. Also Read: How Much Money Has BCCI Deducted From Rishabh Pant’s ₹27 Crore Salary As Penalty?
