Former Pakistan fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed has expressed disappointment with the performance of the current crop of pacers, including Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Khurram Shahzad, in the opening Test against Bangladesh. The two-match Test series is being played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where the pitch is expected to offer pace and bounce. Pakistan's captain, Shan Masood, opted for an all-pace attack in anticipation of these conditions.
Tanvir Ahmed criticizes Pakistan's Pace Attack
The pitch at Rawalpindi has presented challenging conditions for bowlers, offering little assistance. As a result, the Pakistani pace quartet of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Ali has struggled to trouble the Bangladesh batsmen. Tanvir Ahmed took to social media to express his frustration with the performance of the young Pakistani pacers. He sarcastically compared their bowling to that of a 35-year-old bowler, highlighting their lack of impact in the Test match.
Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah look like 35-year-old: Tanvir Ahmed
"Naseem Shah 21 years old. Shaheen Afridi 24 years old. Khurram Shazhad 24 years old. Aesa lagta ha 35 years kay fast bowler's lag rahe hain. (They look like 35-year-old pacers).
Tanvir Ahmed shared a statistic on social media comparing the performance of pace bowlers in home Tests over the past three years. The data revealed that Pakistan's pace attack had the lowest performance among all teams during this period.
"This is our pathetic Pakistan bowling record look at last 3 years record olso look at bowling SR rate very very poor that means we dont have a bowling skills or fitness."
Tanvir Ahmed goes on to slam Azhar Mahmood
Tanvir criticised Pakistan's coach, Azhar Mahmood, for avoiding responsibility for the team's poor performance in the first Test. Mahmood had attributed the team's struggles to the unexpected behavior of the pitch. Ahmed responded to Mahmood's comments with scathing criticism on social media. He accused Mahmood of protecting his coaching staff and questioned the rationale behind his appointment as an assistant coach.
"Azher Mehmood ney kia zabardast safe kiya ha apney ap ko or coaching staff ko press conference main afsos howa aesa lagta ha Azher Mehmood ney kabhi cricket nahi khaile matlab ghalti bhi except nahi karni. (It's commendable how Azhar Mahmood saved himself and coaching staff at the press conference. It looks like Azhar Mahmood never played cricket.)"
"Lagta ha Azher mehmood ney sab ko bewaqoof samjha howa ha ye haal ha humrey assistant coach ka or pakistan team main rakha howa ha zahir se baat ha jo farigh coach hoga usko pakistan team main job mil jate ha," (Azhar Mahmood thinks people are idiot. This is the condition of our assistant coach and he is part of Pakistan setup. In Pakistan team even bad coaches get job,)" Tanvir Ahmed wrote in next tweet.
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