New Delhi, Aug 23 : Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan captain and left-arm fast bowling legend believes that the absence of Shaheen Shah Afridi due to an injury to his right knee ligament for the coming Asia Cup is a big setback for Babar Azam’s team.Since his debut for the international team in 2018 Afridi is now the mainstay of Pakistan’s bowling attack in the three formats of the international game.
He has picked up 47 wickets in 40 T20I matches, and picked 3-31 in his four innings, which will form the foundation for Pakistan’s 10 wicket victory against India in the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup.
“Shaheen Afridi is going to be missed significantly by the Pakistan team.He is vital due to his capability of the ability to take wickets with the new ball.If you want to limit the opposition this can be accomplished by taking wickets early and this is exactly what he does.He is a defender of the stumps in all formats , regardless of the opposition or batters are.”
“He is extremely steady and is Pakistan’s main bowler throughout all formats.There was a lot of critics in the think-tank after he did not rest and the load-management wasn’t completed.The truth is that he is just 22 years old and he has suffered knee injuries,” said Akram in the press conference organized by Star Sports, the official broadcaster of Asia Cup 2022.
Afridi was injured with a knee ligament injury in the right knee in the first Test of Pakistan’s series against Sri Lanka at Galle and has been out of action since then.
“I have never suffered knee injuries because I am a fast bowler however, those who have say that it is a long time to heal and you worry in the back of your mind that it could return.
Since if it’s the front leg that you are using, or the landing leg for bowlers, it won’t be 100% healthy and you won’t be able to bowl very effectively,” added Akram.
Akram He picked up 502 wickets in 356 ODIs and bowed Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup final against England and England, also expressed his concern about Pakistan’s bowling attack becoming a one-dimensional affair due to Afridi’s absence.
“He is considered to be one of the best three bowlers, therefore the loss of him is a major loss for Pakistan.There is still some pace in the Pakistan bowling team, no doubt.
They have brought in Hasnain in the place of Shaheen.However, since they are all right-handed There is no distinction (in the absence of Shaheen’s left-arm pace).”
“All are fast thanks to the 150plus fast bowlers Pakistan have, such as Naseem Shah and Shahnawaz Dahani who is able to join Pakistan, Hasnain, Haris Rauf, and the all-rounder Mohammad Wasim.They have a great bowling team, however they are they are all right-handed and there is there is no variety in the area of speed bowling is concerned.”
In the fielding department, Pakistan will be led by captain Babar Azam who is in excellent performance across different formats.When asked about the similarities of Azam with the talismanic India batter Virat Kohli who is in an extended period of lean patches and has not hit a hundred in international cricket since the beginning of November of this year, Akram felt it was too for too early to draw any kind of relationship between the two left-handed batsmen.
“It (comparisons) is what it’s all about.While playing, I recall people would compare Inzamam-ul-Haq with Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.Prior to that there was Javed Miandad-Sunil Gavaskar Gundappa Viswanath, and Zaheer Abbas.It’s only natural as you mentioned, Babar has been extremely consistently in every format due to the fact that he has the right method, which is the reason he is so constant.”
“He loves to bat; he gets runs and is still hungry.He is healthy physically, he is still young and of course, he is the captain for all three formats.
He is an aspiring captain and he is still learning.In terms of comparisons relevant, I believe it’s a little early for me.Babar is clearly on the right path to become the same level as Virat is, but the comparison with Virat at this point is a little too early.However, as I said, he is on the right path to become one of the greatest of the modern era.”
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