Mike Hesson: “Shaheen is a world-class bowler”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has lauded left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi, calling him a “world-class bowler”.
Afridi has long been one of Pakistan’s go-to pace bowlers across all three formats, but he has recently been in and out of the national team due to inconsistent performances.
The 25-year-old has started regaining his form, which was evident during the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he captained the Lahore Qalandars and finished as the highest wicket-taker with 19 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 16.42 and an economy rate of 7.76.
After PSL 10, he missed Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore and the T20I tour of Bangladesh.
Afridi ended up returning to the Pakistan team for the limited overs tour of the West Indies and began by claiming two wickets in two T20Is at an average of 29 and an economy rate of 7.25.
After that, he picked up four wickets in two ODIs at an average of 21.50.
“Shaheen is a world-class bowler,” Hesson was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Next up for the men in green will be a T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in Sharjah, which will be held from August 29 to September 7.
Following this, Pakistan will take part in the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be played in the UAE from September 9 to 28.
Pakistan squad for UAE T20I tri-series and 2025 Asia Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
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