Mohammad Kaif: “If their bowling fails, for instance, if Naseem Shah doesn’t take wickets or Shaheen Afridi remains wicketless, then they get exposed”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif believes Pakistan will get “exposed” if the pace duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah don’t take wickets.
He noted it is vital that they strike early and put the opposition on the back foot so that Pakistan’s other bowlers can capitalise on the advantageous position.
Should this not happen and Afridi and Naseem go wicketless, Kaif conceded that the men in green could find themselves in a world of trouble.
“If their bowling fails, for instance, if Naseem Shah doesn’t take wickets or Shaheen Afridi remains wicketless, then they get exposed,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
In Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Afridi picked up eight wickets in four games at an average of 10 and an economy rate of 7.38.
As for Naseem, he finished with two wickets in three matches at an average of 35.50 and an economy rate of 10.14.
After this, Pakistan played three T20Is against Ireland and Afridi ended up taking seven wickets at an average of 12.71 and an economy rate of 7.41.
Naseem, meanwhile, snapped up two wickets in two games at an average of 36.50 and an economy rate of 9.12.
Next up for Pakistan will be four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.
Following this, the men in green will participate in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will be held 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
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