Asia Cup 2022: Shaheen Shah Afridi's Absence Is A “Huge Blow To Pakistan's Chances” – Aakash Chopra

The 22-year-old left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s absence from the Asia Cup 2022 is a “huge blow to Pakistan’s chances,” feels the former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra.

Shaheen Shah Afridi has been ruled out of the upcoming Asia Cup 2022, which is set to be played in the UAE from August 27 to September 11, due to a right knee ligament injury, which he sustained while fielding during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

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In a video shared on his YouTube channel, on Monday (August 22), Chopra talked about Shaheen missing the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup. He elaborated:

“I think it’s a huge blow to Pakistan’s chances. I said the same thing about Bumrah as well. Jasprit Bumrah is not there, Harshal Patel is also not there, apart from him. So it was a twin blow for us.

“When I see Arshdeep, Avesh Khan and Bhuvneshwar – the bowling attack looks a little weak. It is a fact, I am not hiding from it. But Pakistan also cannot hide from the fact.

“It is not that they do not have the bowling. They have a lot of options. Shadab Khan is batting well, but he is not getting those many wickets as a bowler.”

Haris Rauf is very good, no doubt, but he is not Shaheen Shah Afridi – Aakash Chopra

Chopra further shared his views on the Pakistan pacers – Shahnawaz Dahani, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf. He said that Shahnawaz Dahani and Naseem Shah are good pacers, but they can prove expensive at times.

He added that Haris Rauf is a brilliant fast bowler, but he is not in the same league as the 22-year-old Shaheen. He elaborated:

“Shahnawaz Dahani can be very expensive but has the ability to pick up wickets. Naseem Shah made his ODI debut just now and gave a ‘Man of the Match’ performance. He has the pace but is expensive at times.

“We have seen in the PSL that he (Shah) took four or five wickets in one game, but after that, he got hit in the next few matches. He is mercurial in nature, but accuracy is a problem. Haris Rauf is very good, no doubt, but he is not Shaheen Shah Afridi.”

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