PAK Vs AUS: Waqar Younis Slams Shaheen Shah Afridi After Poor Show In ICC World Cup 2023

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s performance in the 2023 World Cup has been far from memorable. The Pakistani pace spearhead has proven to be expensive in the three matches he has played, managing to secure just four wickets. His shortcomings were glaringly evident during Pakistan’s recent seven-wicket loss to India when Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli seemed to target him with ease.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had shot to fame in India after dismantling the team’s batting lineup in Pakistan’s resounding 10-wicket victory in the 2021 T20 World Cup, conceded 36 runs as India comfortably chased down a target of 192. Many of the boundaries scored against him were the result of bowling too full, missing his yorkers, or, in Rohit Sharma’s case, delivering short balls. Pakistani bowling legend Waqar Younis voiced concerns about Afridi’s lack of discipline and questioned his fitness.

“I don’t know if there is a problem with his fitness. The missing link in his bowling is discipline and he is over trying to get wickets. When you keep repeating the same strategy, like Shaheen’s constant pursuit of yorkers, batsmen can anticipate it and prepare accordingly,” said Waqar Younis

Waqar highlighted the contrast with India’s premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, who applied pressure by consistently hitting a line at the top of the off stump. Bumrah claimed two wickets and conceded a mere 19 runs in seven overs, boasting an economy rate of just 2.71. Although Shaheen Shah Afridi managed to dismiss Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, the damage had already been inflicted by that point.

Shaheen Shah Afridi Should Learn From Jasprit Bumrah

“Bumrah is creating pressure and his line is top of the off stump. He bowled so well against Pakistan and created pressure to get wickets,” Waqar acknowledged. He also suggested that the absence of his regular new-ball partner, Naseem Shah, who was ruled out of the World Cup due to a shoulder injury, might have adversely affected Shaheen Shah Afridi’s performance.

“Naseem is a good bowler and doesn’t give many runs away,” said Waqar of the 20-year-old. “When Naseem creates pressure, batsmen take chances with other bowlers and they get wickets.” However, he also said that Pakistan’s bowling department was ‘lacking discipline’ at the World Cup and this cannot be pinned down to the absence of one bowler. “I don’t think it’s because of missing just one bowler, but it’s because they are not keeping it simple,” he said.

Pakistan will face Australia on 20th October at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Australia recently got their momentum back after securing their first victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 against Sri Lanka. Australia will not go easy on Pakistan and the Men in Green need to be prepared for this challenge. Adam Zampa will prove a big threat as he is in good form and he has gained a lot of experience, playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the very same ground in IPL.