Star Pakistan player not fit enough? Kirsten raises concern ahead of Champions Trophy

Pakistan's white-ball formats head coach, Gary Kirsten, has raised alarms about the heavy workload of their star fast bowler, Shaheen Afridi. Afridi, who is currently playing for the Lions in the Champions One-Day Cup, has bowled 19.5 overs so far, taking five wickets at an average of 24. Kirsten’s concern comes as Pakistan prepares to face England in a three-match Test series starting on October 7, with Afridi’s fitness being crucial for their success.

Afridi rested to manage workload

Afridi was recently rested for the second Test against Bangladesh to help manage his workload. With a packed schedule ahead, including the crucial Test series against England, Kirsten highlighted that both Afridi and Naseem Shah have been shouldering Pakistan’s bowling burden across formats. He emphasized the need for proper rest to keep these key players fit and firing.

“Fast bowlers are always under immense pressure to deliver and win games. When we look at our key resources, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah have carried the bulk of the workload for Pakistan across all formats,” said Kirsten on commentary during the Champions Cup game.

“I saw a stat the other day that Shaheen has bowled three times more overs than any other fast bowler in the world over the last 18 months. That's alarming — you’re bound to wear him down eventually,” he added.

Afridi's recent performance and stats

Although Kirsten mentioned that Afridi has bowled the most overs among fast bowlers in the last 18 months, this claim is inaccurate. Australia's Mitchell Starc holds that record, having bowled 531.3 overs since March 2023, while Afridi ranks fourth with 455.1 overs. However, Afridi has been the most prolific wicket-taker during this period, claiming 96 wickets in 54 innings at an average of 24.19. Despite these impressive numbers, Afridi will be keen to improve his Test performance, having taken only five wickets in five Test matches over the last 18 months at an average of 40.81.

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As Pakistan seeks their first Test win at home since February 2021, Afridi’s performance will be key in their upcoming campaign against England.