"Gives away too many runs" - Legendary Pakistan pacer rates trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf

Pakistan's pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf is under immense pressure after disappointing performances in the Champions Trophy 2025. The trio, which is the strength of Pakistan's white-ball team, just couldn't live up to the expectations of the home crowd.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz, who was himself a great fast bowler during his playing career, has rated Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. Nawaz revealed the reasons why these bowlers proved to be ordinary in the Champions Trophy.

Also read: Sunil Gavaskar accuses England of playing blame game after CT 2025 exit, attacks Michael Atherton

Sarfraz Nawaz on Shaheen Afridi's lackluster performance

During an interview on Cricbuzz, Sarfraz Nawaz was asked to rate Pakistan's pace trio. He cited the comeback from injury as the main reason behind Shaheen Afridi's decline. Nawaz feels that Afridi's pace has dropped and he is not the same bowler that he used to be earlier.

"Since he had an injury some time ago, he (Shaheen Afridi) has not been the same bowler. His pace has dropped, and his line and length are not the same," the former Pakistan fast bowler said.

"He could not bowl too many deliveries like the one he bowled to your captain Sharmaji (Rohit Sharma). And towards the end, he was gone. He gives away too many runs," he added.

Shaheen Afridi bowled a fantastic inswinging yorker to Rohit Sharma to pick up his big wicket cheaply. However, he finished with 2-74 in 8 overs which is one of his worst figures in ODIs.

India's vice-captain Shubman Gill played aggressive shots off his bowling which derailed his lines and lengths completely. The left-arm quick picked up 2 wickets in the tournament at a miserable average of 71 and an economy rate of 7.88.

"His line and length are not proper" Sarfraz Nawaz on Haris Rauf

Sarfraz Nawaz also spoke about the other two fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf. While Naseem is Shaheen's new ball partner, Haris Rauf bowls as first-change bowler in the format.

Nawaz believes that Naseem used to bowl at good speeds earlier but his pace dropped after the shoulder injury. He also slammed Haris Rauf for not maintaining a proper line and length and inconsistency.

"He (Naseem Shah) is been in the team for almost five years now. Since he had his shoulder injury, his speed has slowed down. Earlier, he used to bowl at 145, and now he bowls at 135-137, something like that. Then he bowls outside the off stump. He doesn't bowl within the stumps all the time," Nawaz noted.

"He (Haris Rauf) is the fastest of them all, but his line and length are not proper. He bowls one or two good deliveries once in a while," he observed.

End of a disappointing campaign for Pakistan

All three fast bowlers picked up two wickets each in the tournament. Pakistan lost their first two matches to New Zealand and India. After Bangladesh lost to New Zealand, Pakistan's hopes to qualify for the semi-finals ended.

Pakistan's last match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi was washed out due to rain, thus ending a highly disappointing tournament for them. The decorated pace trio will be under pressure and it remains to be seen whether they keep their places in the team or not.