Morne Morkel: “Shaheen is obviously an aggressive bowler that will try and knock you over”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
India bowling coach Morne Morkel is well aware of Pakistan left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s aggressive mindset, pointing out he “will try and knock you over.”
Afridi, who is Pakistan’s ODI captain, has developed a reputation of taking wickets in the first over of a match.
The 25-year-old constantly puts pressure on opposition batsmen, making life uncomfortable for them.
“Shaheen is obviously an aggressive bowler that will try and knock you over,” Morkel was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Afridi showcased his wicket-taking prowess during the 2025 Asia Cup, where he finished as Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker with 10 wickets in seven matches at an average of 16.40 and an economy rate of 6.60.
After that, he played in Pakistan’s two-Test series against South Africa and took five wickets in two Tests at an average of 28.60.
Three T20Is followed and Afridi picked up four wickets in two matches at an average of 17.75 and an economy rate of 8.87.
In the ongoing three-match ODI series, he has claimed one wicket in two games at an average of 96.
Following the South Africa series, Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15, and then participate in a T20I tri-series featuring 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