Pakistan Drops Key Players for England Tests

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has expressed his support for the national team after being dropped from the squad for the remaining Test matches against England, alongside notable players Babar Azam and Naseem Shah. The selection committee, led by Aaqib Javed, opted for a radical change following Pakistan's heavy defeat in the first Test, citing the need to improve player form and prepare for a demanding schedule ahead. Former cricketer Basit Ali criticized the decision, suggesting that Afridi's exclusion was unfairly influenced by his association with Shahid Afridi, raising concerns about bias in the selection process. Javed emphasized that the decision to rest key players was made to help them regain fitness and confidence. The second Test is set to begin in Multan on October 15, with Pakistan hoping to bounce back from their recent performance. The selection changes come after a series of poor results, including a recent loss to Bangladesh.