Harsha Bhogle: “Shaheen Shah Afridi really looks a shadow of himself as a bowler”

Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle has admitted that Pakistan left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi is a “shadow of himself as a bowler”.

Afridi, who captains Pakistan in ODIs, has struggled to take wickets consistently in recent times, with his bowling speed also showing a noticeable decline.

Comparing the 26-year-old to when he first burst onto the international scene, Bhogle conceded there is a big difference, but for all the wrong reasons.

“Shaheen Shah Afridi really looks a shadow of himself as a bowler,” he was quoted as saying by Khel Shel.

Afridi recently captained Pakistan in their three-match ODI series against Australia and took seven wickets at an average of 12.14.

Despite this, he was dropped for Pakistan’s upcoming Test series against the West Indies and England.

The men in green will play two Tests against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.

After that, they will tour England for three Tests from August 19 to September 13.

Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah

Pakistan Squad for England Test series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah

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