Reason unveiled: Shaheen Shah Afridi's absence from the third ODI against West Indies
Pakistan are aiming for their first ODI series victory this year, and they made a tactical change for the third ODI against the West Indies at Tarouba, Trinidad, on August 12. Captain Mohammad Rizwan revealed that the side wanted "fresh legs," leading to the replacement of senior bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi with Naseem Shah.
Despite being included in Pakistan's squad for the entire white-ball series against West Indies, Afridi was not part of the third ODI lineup. The reasons for his absence are unclear, with no information suggesting injury, rest, or strategic decisions as factors.
In the PSL, Afridi led his team, Lahore Qalandars, to the title, bowling 40.1 overs for 19 wickets at an average of 16.42. In the recent series against Bangladesh, he was absent, but he returned to the pace attack alongside Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali for the West Indies series.
In the first ODI against the West Indies, Afridi picked up 4-51, overtaking Mohammed Shami to reach the top of the bowling strike rate charts in the format with a 100-wicket cut-off. However, in the second game, he was wicketless, conceding 35 in six overs in a rain-curtailed game.
The visitors won the first ODI by five wickets, but the West Indies bounced back with a five-wicket win on Sunday. In the third ODI, Pakistan got an early wicket when Naseem dismissed Brandon King for five runs in the third over. The series is now level at 1-1, and both teams will be eager to secure the win and claim the ODI series.
[1] ESPNcricinfo. (2025). Shaheen Shah Afridi included in Pakistan's squad for West Indies series. [online] Available at: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/story/_/id/31531191/shaheen-shah-afridi-included-pakistan-squad-west-indies-series
[2] Cricbuzz. (2025). Shaheen Shah Afridi returns to Pakistan squad for West Indies series. [online] Available at: https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/121260/shaheen-shah-afridi-returns-to-pakistan-squad-for-west-indies-series
[4] CricTracker. (2025). Shaheen Shah Afridi: Pakistan's key man in the pace attack. [online] Available at: https://www.cricketracker.com/news/shaheen-shah-afridi-pakistans-key-man-in-the-pace-attack/1214725
Sports news outlets are reporting that despite being included in Pakistan's squad for the West Indies series, Shaheen Shah Afridi was not part of the third ODI lineup, with no clear reason given for his absence. Meanwhile, cricket fans are following the tense battle for the ODI series, with the third game resulting in a level series after Pakistan made a tactical change, replacing Afridi with Naseem Shah.
