Rashid Latif: “Shaheen (Afridi), Naseem (Shah), and Khurram (Shahzad) started off with pace of 145 [kph]. They all have come down to 130 [kph]”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif admitted it is concerning to see the pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Khurram Shahzad bowling much slower.
He noted that they “started off with pace of 145 [kph]”, but this has steadily dropped to 130 kph.
Having witnessed what is happening with the current pace attack, Latif is alarmed that Pakistan may be starting to lose their longstanding reputation for producing bowlers who can bowl at “breakneck” speeds.
“The world knows that pace used to be our strength but our top fast bowlers no longer bowl at breakneck pace. Their speeds have come down drastically. If they are carrying injuries, they should reveal that. Shaheen (Afridi), Naseem (Shah), and Khurram (Shahzad) started off with pace of 145 [kph]. They all have come down to 130 [kph],” he told Cricbuzz, as per IANS, according to Cricket Pakistan.
Afridi, Naseem and Shahzad were all in action in Pakistan’s two-Test series against Bangladesh, which they shockingly lost 2-0.
Afridi and Naseem only featured in the first Test and took two wickets at an average of 48 and three wickets at 33.33 respectively.
As for Shahzad, he was Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker in the series with nine wickets in two matches at an average of 24.44.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Shaheen Shah Afridi
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