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Pakistan cricket legend Waqar Younis has extended a helping hand to Shaheen Afridi, who has faced a rough patch with the ball in the ongoing ICC Cricket ODI World Cup 2023 in India. Shaheen’s performance in the touranament has been a topic of concern for Pakistani cricket fans.
Performance dip in first three matches
In Pakistan’s initial three games of the tournament, the young pacer has failed to live up to expectations. Shaheen’s inability to make significant breakthroughs, having secured just four wickets, and an unimpressive economy rate of 6.31 have raised questions about his form and fitness.
Waqar Younis’ valuable advice
Amid concerns about his fitness and effectiveness as a strike bowler, Waqar has offered some sage advice to Shaheen. He suggested that the left-arm speedster should take a page from India’s fast-bowling sensation, Jasprit Bumrah, known for his pinpoint accuracy and adaptability.
“Jasprit 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 was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
The missing link: Discipline and fitness
In addition to technique and strategy, Younis has pointed out that discipline is a significant missing link in Shaheen’s bowling. The legendary fast bowler also raised concerns about Afridi’s fitness levels, suggesting that addressing these aspects could be pivotal in resurrecting his performance.
“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 do the same thing again and again, like Shaheen is bowling to get his yorker going, then batsmen know that and they are ready for it,” the 51-year-old added.
Also READ: World Cup 2023: Pakistan’s great Wasim Akram slams Haris Rauf for his substandard bowling against India
Impact of Naseem Shah’s Absence
Naseem Shah, another promising young Pakistani pacer, was ruled out of the quadrennial event even before the tournament commenced. Younis believes that Shah’s absence may have affected Shaheen’s performances so far. The absence of a fellow fast bowler and the need to shoulder more responsibility could be contributing factors to Afridi’s struggles.
“Naseem is a good bowler and doesn’t give many runs away. When Naseem creates pressure, batsmen take chances with other bowlers, and they get wickets. I don’t think it’s because of missing just one bowler, but it’s because they are not keeping it simple,” the Vehari-born cricketer concluded.
Road ahead for Pakistan
With Pakistan’s mixed performance, including wins against Netherlands and Sri Lanka, followed by a loss to India, their upcoming match against Australia in Bengaluru on October 20 carries significant importance on the world stage.
