In a major setback to Pakistan cricket team ahead of New Zealand T20I Series, star pacer Shaheen Afridi is likely to miss first T20 matches due to rotation policy.

According to Geo News report quoting sources the decision to rest Shaheen has been taken as part of the team’s rotation policy, ahead of the T20 World Cup this year, in order to manage the players’ workload.

Shaheen could be on the sidelines for the initial matches in Rawalpindi but will feature in the final three matches of the series.

Shaheen was recently removed as captain of the T20I side and was replaced by Babar Azam.

The PCB said that the change was “a strategic move aimed at ensuring player well-being and peak performance”.

“While Shaheen Afridi has undeniably proven himself as a star fast bowler, leading Pakistan’s pace attack over the years, the board recognises the importance of rotation and rest to maintain his peak performance. This decision aligns with board’s commitment to safeguarding the longevity of the players, especially fast bowlers given their injury timelines in the past two years,” the PCB added.

“Keeping in mind workload management, this decision is to ensure Pakistan main bowlers remain at the top of their game. The board does not want the national men’s team to run into injury crisis concerning the bowling resoucres as seen before the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, where Shaheen had to bee closely looked after and ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, where the team didn’t have the services of Naseem Shah.”