Umar Gul: “Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf [and] Naseem Shah were outstanding, delivering impressive performances”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan speedster Umar Gul has classified the pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf as outstanding.
He noted that the three of them have been “delivering impressive performances” for the men in green, which has helped the team secure some brilliant results.
During the tour of Australia, Rauf led the way during the ODI series, taking 10 wickets, which included a five-for, at an average of 12.
As for Afridi and Naseem, they claimed eight wickets and five wickets at an average of 12.62 and 31.60 respectively.
In the T20Is that followed, Rauf finished with five wickets in three games at an average of 15.40, while Afridi only secured one wicket at an average of 107.
Naseem, meanwhile, ended up with one wicket in two games at an average of 81.
Pakistan then travelled to Zimbabwe, but Afridi and Naseem were rested for both the ODI and T20I series.
Rauf, on the other hand, was part of the squad selected and picked up three wickets in three ODIs at an average of 32.
He then proceeded to take three wickets in two T20Is at an average of 10.
As for Pakistan’s recent tour of South Africa, the 31-year-old went wicketless in the ODI and T20I series.
Naseem did not play in the T20I series, but Afridi did and finished with three wickets in two games at an average of 19.66.
He followed it up with seven wickets in three ODIs at an average of 23.28, while Naseem got five wickets at an average of 28.
After the ODIs, Pakistan and South Africa were involved in a two-Test series, which Afridi and Rauf were not picked for.
Naseem did make the cut and claimed four wickets in one Test at an average of 31.50.
“Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf [and] Naseem Shah were outstanding, delivering impressive performances,” Gul said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a two-Test series against the West Indies, which will be played in Karachi and Multan from January 17 to 29.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha