Pakistan pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi: “I have bowled at the speed of 150 and 148 kph but my average pace has always been around 140”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has addressed prior concerns about his bowling speed, saying he has hit 150 kph when bowling and maintains an average speed of 140 kph.
Afridi had earlier been criticised for his pace decreasing, which many attributed to his lack of wickets.
Lately, the 25-year-old has been in excellent form as he was the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan during the 2025 Asia Cup with 10 wickets in seven matches at an average of 16.40 and an economy rate of 6.60.
He then featured in the two-Test series against South Africa, picking up five wickets at an average of 28.60.
As for the three-match T20I series, Afridi took four wickets in two games at an average of 17.75 and an economy rate of 8.87.
The left-arm seamer then made his debut as ODI captain and finished with three wickets in three matches at an average of 38.
“I have bowled at the speed of 150 and 148 kph but my average pace has always been around 140. Sometimes the body doesn’t respond, when you play more cricket, you realise there are always things you need to improve. You don’t need any justification,” Afridi was quoted as saying by journalist Ahmad Haseeb on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan are now facing Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series, but Afridi has gone wicketless so far.
After this, the men in green will go up against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in a T20I tri-series from November 18 to 29.
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, 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, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
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