Aaqib Javed: “Shaheen, Haris, and Naseem – everyone knows they are our best pacers and the future of Pakistan”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Head coach Aaqib Javed has thrown his support behind the pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, calling them “the future of Pakistan”.
Questions have been raised about all three fast bowlers recently, with critics targeting their consistency when it comes to taking wickets and the amount of runs they concede.
Despite these concerns, Aaqib insisted that Afridi, Naseem and Rauf “are out best pacers”.
“Shaheen, Haris, and Naseem – everyone knows they are our best pacers and the future of Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Recently, Afridi, Naseem and Rauf took part in the 2025 Champions Trophy and claimed two wickets in two games at an average of 71, 50 and 67.50 respectively.
Pakistan then played a five-match T20I series against New Zealand and Afridi picked up 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, was not included in the T20I squad.
The men in green and the Black Caps are now involved in a three-match ODI series, which New Zealand leads 2-0.
In the first two matches, Rauf has taken three wickets at an average of 37.66, while Naseem has snapped up one wicket at an average of 60.
As for Afridi, he was not selected for the ODIs.
The 3rd ODI will be played on April 5 in Mount Maunganui.
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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