Virender Sehwag: “Their class is not like that of Waqar, Wasim, or Shoaib Akhtar. While they are definitely good bowlers, to reach that level, one has to play a certain number of matches, take that many wickets, and improve their economy rate”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary India opening batsman Virender Sehwag believes current Pakistan fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf are nowhere close to the iconic trio of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar.
Waqar, Wasim and Akhtar are among the best speedsters Pakistan has ever produced.
Sehwag acknowledged that Afridi, Naseem and Rauf are “good bowlers”, but insisted that they need to play more matches, take more wickets and “improve their economy rate”, which he thinks will take at least five to 10 years.
“Their class is not like that of Waqar, Wasim, or Shoaib Akhtar. While they are definitely good bowlers, to reach that level, one has to play a certain number of matches, take that many wickets, and improve their economy rate. This will take 5-10 years. Even then, Pakistan’s pace trio is not yet close to them,” he was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Afridi, Naseem and Rauf were recently in action in the 2025 Champions Trophy and took two wickets in two games at an average of 71, 50 and 67.50 respectively.
Pakistan are now facing New Zealand in a white-ball series and were crushed 4-1 in the T20Is.
Afridi ended up claiming two wickets in four games at an average of 66.50, while Rauf finished with eight wickets in four matches at an average of 12.25.
Naseem, meanwhile, wasn’t picked for in the T20I squad.
Pakistan and New Zealand are now involved in a three-match ODI series, which the Black Caps lead 1-0 after winning the 1st ODI in Napier by 73 runs.
In that match, Rauf snapped up two wickets, while Naseem got one.
The 2nd ODI began on April 2 in Hamilton.
Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir
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