Ahmed Shehzad: “Now he seems to be back in rhythm and looking fast”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad admitted that fast bowler Akif Javed is back and “looking fast”.
Shehzad noted that the 24-year-old was close to being called up to the national team in the past before falling off the radar and no longer being in the selectors’ plans.
However, his strong performances in domestic cricket lately have not gone unnoticed and the 32-year-old feels that Javed is back on track to potentially making his international debut.
“There was a time when Akif Javed started representing Pakistan; he was very close, and his performances were strong, especially in red-ball cricket where his pace had improved significantly. However, he may have gotten injured, which caused him to fall a bit off the radar for the Pakistan team, and the management that wanted to bring him in also changed. Now he seems to be back in rhythm and looking fast,” Shehzad was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Javed recently featured in the Champions One-Day Cup, which was held in Faisalabad, and took seven wickets in five matches for the Markhors at an average of 22.
He then played one match for the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in the President’s Cup Grade-I (1-Day) tournament and went wicketless.
The Pakistan team recently took on Bangladesh in a two-Test series and lost 2-0 despite playing both games on home soil in Rawalpindi.
Currently, the men in green are in action in a three-match Test series against England, which is tied at 1-1.
The third Test will begin on October 24 in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan Squad for 2nd and 3rd Tests against England: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Zahid Mahmood.
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