Shoaib Akhtar, a former Pakistani cricketer, remarked on Thursday that the team’s current pace attack makes him think of the time when Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were a dominant duo.
Pakistan’s pace attack reminds ‘old days’: With Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, Pakistan has one of the best fast-bowling teams in the world.
The trio has combined for 23 wickets in the first three games of the current Asia Cup, which Pakistan and Sri Lanka are co-hosting as a warm-up for the next one-day international World Cup in India.
In a group match last week, Shaheen, a left-arm pacer, disrupted the Indian top order. After just one innings, rain called off the match, and he still poses a threat going into Sunday’s crucial Super Four encounter between the two bitter rivals.
In an online chat hosted by Star Sports, Akhtar said, “These young people are very, very talented, and I am happy that Pakistan is able to produce such fast bowlers time and time again.”
“This pace battery makes me miss the good ole’ days…” reminds me of the time when Waqar and Wasim were the two Ws. They are extremely self-assured and think like wicket-takers.
Together, Wasim and Waqar captured over 900 ODI wickets, terrifying the opposition’s batsmen with their lightning-quick reverse swing deliveries.
Shaheen leads the charge alongside Naseem on new balls, but first-change Rauf leads the Asia Cup wicket-taking list with nine dismissals.
Rauf returned 4-19 from his six overs as Pakistan hammered Bangladesh in the Super Fours opener on Wednesday in Lahore.
“Shoaib Akhtar’s Insights on Pakistan’s Fast Bowling Talent and Cricket Prospects”
“In my opinion, Shaheen Shah Afridi is currently in the prime of his career. Akhtar, who later joined Pakistan’s pace attack alongside Wasim and Waqar, claimed that Haris Rauf “has a wicket-taking mindset like Shaheen.”
“Instead of being a stock bowler, Naseem should bowl more wicket-taking deliveries, in my opinion. Shaheen can’t penetrate as well as he can, but he seams the ball more.
Great fast bowlers have historically come from Pakistan, notably World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, and Fazal Mahmood.
According to Akhtar, Pakistan is still the frontrunner to win both the Asia Cup and the World Cup, which begin on October 5. He also predicted that Babar Azam’s team will defeat India in both competitions.