Babar Azam: “Shaheen and Naseem are world-class bowlers”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan limited overs captain Babar Azam has lauded the pace duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, calling them “world-class bowlers”.
Afridi and Naseem are Pakistan’s fast bowling spearheads in all three formats, even though they are only 24 and 21 years old respectively.
Both players have been in good form lately and there is no doubt that Azam will be expecting big things from them in the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup.
“Shaheen and Naseem are world-class bowlers,” he was quoted as saying by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Afridi took eight wickets in four games at an average of 10 and an economy rate of 7.38.
Naseem, meanwhile, finished with two wickets in three matches at an average of 35.50 and an economy rate of 10.14.
Following this, Afridi claimed seven wickets in three T20Is against Ireland at an average of 12.71 and an economy rate of 7.41.
As for Naseem, he snapped up two wickets in two games at an average of 36.50 and an economy rate of 9.12.
Pakistan’s next assignment will see them play four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.
Afterwards, they will take part in the T20 World Cup, which will be played in the West Indies and United States of America from June 1 to 29.
Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan