Hammad Azam: “If we talk about Shaheen Afridi, no disrespect to his bowling, but he is not an all-rounder”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan batsman Hammad Azam has made it clear that left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi “is not an all-rounder”.
He noted that Afridi can only hit big shots, but doesn’t have the ability to build an innings or hold up one end by playing defensive strokes.
Azam further pointed out that if the 24-year-old is batting at number six or seven, it is wrong for the team as those positions should be for players who can still bat properly and have an impact regularly.
“If we talk about Shaheen Afridi, no disrespect to his bowling, but he is not an all-rounder. If he is batting at number 6 or 7, that is wrong for the team. Shahid Afridi was an all-rounder, Shaheen Afridi isn’t one. You need to understand, you also have to see, that if a team is down, can he block, six-hitting aside? Can he build an innings? We don’t see this, you just see that a bowler can strike,” the 33-year-old, who has moved to the United States of America, told PakPassion.
“For example, Umar Gul could bat as well. Same goes for Abbas Afridi, he can hold the bat but he should focus on his bowling more. With that, improve your batting.”
Afridi was recently in action in Pakistan’s white-ball series against Australia and took eight wickets in three ODIs at an average 12.62.
He then picked up one wicket in three T20Is at an average of 107.
Pakistan travelled to Zimbabwe after this, but Afridi was rested for both the ODI and T20I series.
He returned for the ongoing tour of South Africa and claimed three wickets in two T20Is at an average of 19.66.
Afridi also did well in the three ODIs that followed, snapping up seven wickets at an average of 23.28.
Pakistan and South Africa are now playing two Tests, with the first match having gotten 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
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