Salman Ali Agha: “They (Rauf and Shaheen) are some of the best fast bowlers in the world”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has heaped praise on the pace duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, saying they “are some of the best fast bowlers in the world”.
Afridi and Rauf are Pakistan’s go-to fast bowlers in white-ball cricket and have been in excellent form lately.
During the 2025 Asia Cup, Afridi was Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker with 10 wickets in seven matches at an average of 16.40 and an economy rate of 6.60.
Rauf, meanwhile, finished with nine wickets in five games at an average of 18.33 and an economy rate of nine.
“They (Rauf and Shaheen) are some of the best fast bowlers in the world,” Salman was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Pakistan are currently facing South Africa on home soil and in the two-Test series, Afridi claimed five wickets at an average of 28.60.
As for the three T20Is, the 25-year-old snapped up four wickets in two games at an average of 17.75 and an economy rate of 8.87.
Pakistan and South Africa will now shift their focus to the three-match ODI series, which will be played from November 4 to 8.
After that, Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15, and then compete in a T20I tri-series alongside Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29.
Pakistan squad for South Africa ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem