Imad Wasim: “Shaheen is an asset. He has given many performances to Pakistan, he’s still the best bowler in the country with the new ball. If I was there, I would like never drop him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan spinner Imad Wasim said he would never drop a bowler like Shaheen Shah Afridi as the left-arm seamer is “an asset” to the national team.
Imad noted that the 25-year-old has delivered so many amazing performances for the men in green over the years.
Additionally, he still sees Afridi as the best new-ball bowler in Pakistan, especially considering how often he strikes in the beginning overs of a match.
“Shaheen is an asset. He has given many performances to Pakistan, he’s still the best bowler in the country with the new ball. If I was there, I would like never drop him,” Imad told PakPassion.
Afridi was recently involved in 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.
Even though he was the top bowler in PSL 10, he was ignored by the selectors for Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore.
He also failed to make the cut for the tour of Bangladesh, where the men in green lost the T20I series 2-1.
Pakistan then went to the West Indies, where Afridi made his T20I return and took two wickets in two matches at an average of 29 and an economy rate of 7.25.
In the three-match ODI series that followed, he finished with four wickets in two games at an average of 21.50.
Pakistan won the T20I series 2-1, but lost the ODI series 2-1.
After their tour of the West Indies, Pakistan faced the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in a T20I tri-series in Sharjah, which they won.
In four matches, Afridi took four wickets at an average of 19.50 and an economy rate of 5.57.
He is now representing Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup, which is being held in the UAE.
So far, Afridi has claimed one wicket in two games at an average of 43 and an economy rate of 7.16.
He also showcased his batting skills against India, smashing an unbeaten 33 off 16 balls, which included four sixes.
Having beaten Oman and lost to India, Pakistan will be searching for a win when they take on the UAE on September 17 in Dubai.
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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