Legendary bowler Shoaib Akhtar showered accolades on Pakistani contemporary pace troika Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah. According to Akhtar, the potency and skill of this trio place them atop the global pace hierarchy
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Having once been the nemesis of batsmen worldwide, flanked by cricketing stalwarts Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram in the glorious 90s, Akhtar holds a nuanced perspective on fast bowling. In his view, Shaheen Shah Afridi, with his impeccable form and prowess, is charting a trajectory amongst the elite fast bowlers of this era.
"I am very happy that Pakistan is able to produce such fast bowlers over and over again. First, there used to be a lot of fast bowlers from Punjab. Now, there is one from Rawalpindi, and two are Pathans. And the Pathans are very, very rugged and tough. So, this pace battery reminds me of the old days," Akhtar fondly remembered during a virtual presser hosted by Star Sports.
Shaheen's recent performances, especially during the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, are a testament to his capabilities. He has been a thorn in the side for top-tier batsmen, having claimed wickets of cricketing giants like Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, and Litton Das in the championship.
But Shaheen isn't the only ace up Pakistan's sleeve. Akhtar shed light on Naseem Shah's attributes, emphasizing his superior ability to seam the ball, often outclassing even Shaheen. "He is not a stock bowler. He seams the ball more, even more than Shaheen, and he can penetrate even further," Akhtar asserted, suggesting Naseem's paramount importance as a genuine wicket-taker for the team.
Akhtar's admiration for these bowlers isn't baseless. Their collective contribution was palpable during Pakistan's recent triumph over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup's Super Four match at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. Shaheen Afridi also breathed fire with a spellbinding spell of 4/35 against arch rivals India on September 2, however the match was called off due to persistent rain.
As cricket enthusiasts await with bated breath, Pakistan's next challenge looms on the horizon, a clash with Rohit Sharma-led India on September 10 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The performance of this formidable pace trio could very well determine the outcome of this much-anticipated encounter.
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