Mohammad Rizwan: “I have requested Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf to share their experience with [the] other bowlers of Pakistan”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan is banking on the pace duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf to share their experience with and help the other bowlers in the team.
Afridi is Pakistan’s pace spearhead in all three formats, while Rauf has become an integral member of the limited overs squads.
Since both players are bona fide wicket-takers, Rizwan is counting on them to assist in developing the younger bowlers in the side.
“I have requested Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf to share their experience with [the] other bowlers of Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
During the limited overs series against Australia, Rauf took 10 wickets in three ODIs at an average of 12, while Afridi claimed eight wickets at an average of 12.62.
In the T20Is, Rauf picked up five wickets in three games at an average of 15.40, while Afridi only managed to get one at an average of 107.
Afridi was subsequently rested for Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe, but Rauf was selected and started off with three wickets in three ODIs at an average of 32.
As for the three-match T20I series, he finished with three wickets in two games at an average of 10.
Pakistan are now taking on South Africa and began by losing the T20I series 2-0, where Afridi snapped up three wickets at an average of 19.66, while Rauf went wicketless.
Rauf has also failed to take a wicket in the first two ODIs, but Afridi has had more success, taking five wickets at an average of 18.60.
The men in green hold a 2-0 lead going into the 3rd ODI on December 22 in Johannesburg.
Following the ODI series, Pakistan and South Africa will play two Tests, with the first match getting underway on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha