Vernon Philander on the Pakistan team: “I feel that they (Pakistan) needed that one bowler who can up it a little bit at 140+”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former South Africa seamer Vernon Philander has admitted that Pakistan need a bowler who can bowl at speeds of 140 kph or more.
He pointed out that the men in green lacked such a bowler in the recent two-Test series, which really ended up hurting them.
During that series, Mohammad Abbas was the pick of the pace bowlers as he took 10 wickets, including a career-best 6-54 in the 1st Test, at an average of 24.60.
As for Pakistan’s other seamers, Naseem Shah played one match and claimed four wickets at an average of 31.50, while Khurram Shahzad featured in both Tests and finished with six wickets at an average of 40.83.
Meanwhile, Mir Hamza, who played one Test, and Aamer Jamal, who took part in both matches, picked up two wickets each at an average of 63.50 and 78.50 respectively.
Considering that Pakistan lacked a bowler who could hit 140 kph consistently, Philander noted it is something they need to address going forward.
“I feel that they (Pakistan) needed that one bowler who can up it a little bit at 140+,” he was quoted as saying by Grassroots Cricket on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan lost the two-Test series against South Africa 2-0.
Next up for the men in green will be a two-Test series against the West Indies, which will be held in Karachi and Multan from January 16 to 28.
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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