Irfan Pathan: “Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Amir are high-quality pacers”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has heaped praise on the Pakistan trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Amir, calling them “high-quality pacers”.
Afridi and Naseem have been the men in green’s pace spearheads for quite some time, while Amir recently reversed his decision to retire from international cricket.
All three have been in solid form as of late and will be expected to play a pivotal role for Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Amir are high-quality pacers,” Pathan was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
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.
Amir picked up three wickets at an average of 28.66 and an economy rate of 8.32, while Naseem claimed two at an average of 35.50 and an economy rate of 10.14.
Following this, the men in green took on Ireland in a three-match T20I series and Afridi once again led the way with seven wickets at an average of 12.71 and an economy rate of 7.41.
Amir got two wickets at an average of 38 and an economy rate of 9.50, while Naseem also snapped up two wickets at an average of 36.50 and an economy rate of 9.12.
Pakistan are now involved in a four-match T20I series against England, which is tied at 0-0 after the first game was abandoned due to persistent rain.
Afterwards, they will feature in the 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