Azhar Mahmood: “I don’t know who is objecting. If you look back at his performances over the past two years – he took 53 wickets last year and 27 this year, making it 80 in total. I don’t understand what the objection is about”
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Pakistan red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood cannot understand what all the fuss is about after left-arm spinner Asif Afridi was picked for the recent two-Test series against South Africa.
Ravichandran Ashwin: “I am not sure about his real age”
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India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said he is not sure what Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha’s real age is.
Salman Butt: “Wasim bhai played his last World Cup in 2003 in South Africa and was still bowling at speeds of 137-138 kph at the age of 40, something today’s bowlers struggle with”
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Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt expressed his amazement at the fact that iconic Pakistan left-arm seamer Wasim Akram was still bowling close to 140 kph at the age of 40.
Salman Ali Agha: “He’s so young. At his age, normally, players don’t have that kind of a head on their shoulders. He’s a great talent”
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Pakistan limited overs vice-captain Salman Ali Agha has called opening batsman Saim Ayub a “great talent” and said players his age usually aren’t so calm and composed.
Salman Butt: “Shoaib Bhai, despite his injuries, was bowling over 150 kph in the 2011 World Cup in India at the age of 38-39. Such feats are rarely seen these days”
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Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt admitted it was impressive to see legendary speedster Shoaib Akhtar bowling over 150 kph at the age of 39.
Salman Butt: “Yes, he (Aaqib Javed) talked about Fakhar Zaman. We all know about his knee injury, but I think with age, Fakhar needs to work on his strength”
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Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has advised big-hitting batsman Fakhar Zaman to work on his strength.
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Abbas: “Age is not a hindrance to my performance. I am 34 years old, but James Anderson [was] still playing at [41]. As long as you are fit, you should continue playing cricket. If you can bowl 20 overs a day, it means you are fit to play”
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Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas doesn’t think age should stop him from returning to the national team and pointed out that England pace bowler James Anderson kept hold of his spot until retiring at the age of 41.
Moin Khan: “There is no doubt about Mohammad Rizwan’s abilities; any criticism against him might be due to his age. It’s also important to consider how long he can represent the team if given leadership. Mohammad Rizwan could be a great short-term captain”
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Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan believes Mohammad Rizwan would be “a great short-term captain” in white-ball cricket.
Salman Butt: “Iftikhar, I don’t know maybe there is definitely something to do with the reflexes because at his age, you have to be super fit or otherwise your movements, they get slow”
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Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt believes it’s possible that big-hitting batsman Iftikhar Ahmed’s reflexes are slowing down.
Shaun Tait: “I think at his age now, early 20s, he is probably the best, and it is a big call, but I am going to say he is nearly the best fast bowler I have ever seen at that age”
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Shaun Tait, the former Pakistan bowling coach, crowned Naseem Shah as the “best fast bowler I have ever seen” at the age of 20 even though he knows “it is a big call.”