Azhar Mahmood: “The young guy gets a lot of encouragement from the other two”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood believes that left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi is very fortunate to have two senior left-armers in Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir to help him.

Afridi finished with figures of 4-47 off his 10 overs in Pakistan’s three-wicket win over Afghanistan in the World Cup on Saturday.

The 19-year-old made history during the match as he broke the record for the best figures of a teenager in a World Cup match.

Afridi has now taken 10 wickets in four World Cup matches at a brilliant average of 19.90.

“The young guy gets a lot of encouragement from the other two,” Mahmood was quoted as saying by PakPassion. “All three of them are left-armers, so that’s very helpful.

“If we have to restrict the opposition to less runs, these guys are very important for us. That’s the difference because when we don’t take wickets, other teams get 300. Now these guys are taking wickets, we can restrict sides.”

With Pakistan having defeated Afghanistan, they will now have to beat Bangladesh at Lord’s on Friday to have any chance of reaching the World Cup semi-finals.

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