Mohammad Kaif: “In my opinion, if these three bowlers are even slightly out of form, Pakistan could face difficulties”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif has admitted that “Pakistan could face difficulties” if the pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf “are even slightly out of form.”
He noted that they must do everything in their power to keep firing on all cylinders as the men in green will need them to keep taking wickets.
Afridi and Naseem will be expected to provide early breakthroughs as they are the spearheads of the pace attack.
As for Rauf, the men in green will need him to get wickets in the middle overs and slow down the opposition team’s run rate.
If the trio fail to do their jobs, Kaif reiterated that Pakistan will find it very difficult to win matches.
“In my opinion, if these three bowlers are even slightly out of form, Pakistan could face difficulties,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
In Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Afridi claimed eight wickets in four games at an average of 10 and an economy rate of 7.38.
Naseem, meanwhile, ended up getting two wickets in three matches at an average of 35.50 and an economy rate of 10.14.
Following this, Pakistan played three T20Is against Ireland and Afridi took seven wickets at an average of 12.71 and an economy rate of 7.41.
As for Naseem, he picked up two wickets in two games at an average of 36.50 and an economy rate of 9.12.
Rauf didn’t feature in the New Zealand or Ireland series as he was recovering from the dislocated shoulder he suffered while playing for the Lahore Qalandars in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Pakistan are now playing a four-match T20I series against England, which is level at 0-0 after the first game was rained off.
Afterwards, they will be involved in the 2024 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
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
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