India vs Pakistan: Pakistan Is More Dependable On Shaheen Afridi Than India Are On Jasprit Bumrah - Aaqib Javed

Former Pakistan pace bowler Aaqib Javed mentioned how the absence of Shaheen Afridi and Jasprit Bumrah will impact their respective teams in the Asia Cup 2022. 

India and Pakistan will set the tempo of the continental event when they lock horns against each other on August 28 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

Shaheen Afridi and Jasprit Bumrah are notable absentees in India vs Pakistan Asia Cup marquee clash

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a statement on Saturday (August 20) where they mentioned that Shaheen needs rest for four-six weeks to recover from a knee injury.

The latest scans and reports are not a good sign for the Pakistan men’s team as their bowling spearhead is set to miss Asia Cup 2022 followed by the seven-match T20I series against England at home.

Shaheen picked up the right ligament knee injury while fielding during the first Test against Sri Lanka last month and hasn’t played any match for the national team since then.

On the other hand, Bumrah has been struggling with back spasms in the late, which eventually ruled him out of India’s Asia Cup 2022 squad. 

The move by the Indian selectors was taken into consideration by not aggravating the speedster’s injury and allowing him to recover for the T20 World Cup 2022 in late October. 

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Pakistan bowling spearhead Shaheen Afridi has been ruled out of the Asia Cup due to a knee injury. With Jasprit Bumrah also out of the tournament due to injury, it will be devoid of two marquee fast bowlers. #CricketOnKoo

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– Gaurav Kalra (@GK75) 20 Aug 2022

Shaheen starred during Pakistan’s emphatic 10-wicket win against India in the 2021 T20 World Cup. The lanky left-arm pacer claimed the wickets of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli to restrict India to a below-par score.

Shaheen Afridi’s absence is a huge setback for Pakistan: Aaqib Javed 

Javed believes that Pakistan highly relies on Shaheen more than India does on Bumrah to get wickets. 

“With Bumrah not there, the Indian bowling attack has become weak. There is no Shami either. But the role Shaheen has in Pakistan’s bowling attack shows that the team depends on him more than India depends on Bumrah,” Javed told Paktv.tv.

“It is a huge setback for Pakistan. Because of the way he bowls, even in T20 cricket, batters are left in a dilemma as to whether they should save themselves from an LBW or risk being bowled out. So, there is a huge pressure on batters when Shaheen bowls,” he added. 

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Hasnain on Monday was named replacement for Shaheen Afridi in the national squad for the Asia Cup.

Also Read: Asia Cup 2022: It Is A Massive Setback For Pakistan That Shaheen Afridi Is Out Of The Asia Cup ‐ Inzamam-ul-Haq