"Learn something from Mohammad Amir.."- Waqar Younis brutally schools Shaheen Shah Afridi

Former Pakistan bowler Waqar Younis was all praise for veteran seamer Mohammad Amir who bowled exceptionally well during his side’s loss against Islamabad United last night. Amir’s Quetta Gladiators might have squandered the chance to play the 2nd Eliminator against Peshawar Zalmi today but the left-arm bowler’s line length drew a lot of plaudits. So much so that Younis even suggested Pakistan’s T20 captain Shaheen Afridi to learn from the veteran.

Waqar Younis was extremely impressed with the way Mohammad Amir bowled during the 1st Eliminator against Islamabad at the National Stadium in Karachi. There wasn’t much swing on offer at the track in Karachi and perhaps that was the reason why Younis applauded Amir for maintaining his composure despite conditions being unfavorable.

Waqar Younis and Ramiz Raja appreciate Mohammad Amir for “hammering” batters with good length

Former Pakistan teammates Waqar Younis and Ramiz Raja, who were present at the commentary box last night, had nothing but words of appreciation for Mohammad Amir’s stealth bowling performance. He turned out to be the most economical bowler in that flat batting deck at Karachi and he displayed every ounce of his experience.

Ramiz Raja was the first one to notice that Amir was bowling those hard lengths and kept on hammering them in the right areas that making batters uncomfortable. Raja also noted that Amir did not strive away from his plan after spotting the correct length which made Islamabad batters to be in “two minds”.

“This really was well bowled, look at the length. He spotted that length and just carried on hammering the ball there, forcing the batsman to be in two minds.” – Ramiz Raja said during commentary. 

Then Waqar Younis jumped in and agreed with Raja’s point. Younis, who retired after claiming 789 wickets combined in Tests and ODIs, asked Pakistan T20 captain Shaheen Afridi to learn a lesson from Mohammad Amir. The former right-arm pacer hoped that Shaheen was watching the match and observing that when there’s no swing on offer, one must look to hit the correct lengths.

There’s no doubt about the quality of Shaheen Afridi’s bowling but the fact that he concedes way too much on certain days, especially when there’s no ball movement.

“I hope Shaheen Afridi is watching that because I think he needs to do that more often. Because early on if it (ball) isn’t swinging, just hit this length.” – Waqar Younis followed up after Ramiz Raja’s point. 

Shadab Khan’s Islamabad United set up a meeting with Babar Azam’s Peshawar 

Meanwhile, following their commanding 39-run victory over Quetta Gladiators, the Shadab Khan-led Islamabad United have set up a meeting with Peshawar Zalmi later today in Eliminator 2 at Karachi. United batted first after winning the toss and set up a target of 175 for the out-of-form Gladiators batters to chase.

On a night when most of their bowlers conceded over 8 an over, Mohammad Amir maintained a sensational economy rate of just 5 from his quota of 4 overs. Amir leaked just 20 runs and also picked up 2 wickets. However, his efforts in the 1st innings went in vain as Quetta got all out for 135 that too through a fifty from Omair Yousuf, Akeal Hosein’s 31 off 18, and Mohammad Amir’s batting effort of 23 off 14.