There is an interesting narrative that is being spoken about in Pakistan cricket these days. It’s a perceived tussle between Shaheen Afridi and Wasim Akram. It all started when Wasim Akram criticised Shaheen Afridi’s batting prowess as he promoted himself up the order in a Pakistan Super League game. Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi in a match against Karachi Kings scored and was blasted by Akram for promoting himself ahead of Sikandar Raza and David Weise.
“Shaheen scored 1 off 3, while Raza scored 22 off 16 & Wiese 24 off 9. They took the score to 177. It’s not mandatory that if you are captain you have to come out to bat. Observe the situation & whether there are better players & hitters in the dugout. If Shaheen had done that maybe they would have made 190. “Shaheen needs to be told that he hasn’t become an all-rounder yet,” Akram had said.
A day later, Shaheen struck a 34-ball 55, while batting at 5, agianst Quetta Gladiators. After that he did a ‘shut up’ celebration. It is being seen as a reply to Wasim Akram.
Belting them out of the park!
for skipper Shaheen #HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #QGvLQ pic.twitter.com/grsh4f1VSh
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 10, 2024
Later in the game, Shaheen conceded a last ball six as Quetta Gladiators registered a six-wickets win. Akram criticised Shaheen for his poor bowling in the death overs against the Quetta Gladiators.
“Shaheen is a very experienced bowler. He is the captain of Pakistan team as well. He is playing international cricket for five years now,” said Akram on ‘The Pavilion.
“He wanted to bowl a length ball but instead he should have bowled full. Edge lag ke chauka jaaye (It doesn’t matter if he would have conceded a boundary through edge) not a problem. I think it again is a learning curve for Shaheen. I think in this PSL, he is not able to bowl well in the death overs.
“The game was in control…” legendary pacer @wasimakramlive comments on #ShaheenShahAfridi‘s struggle in the death overs.#ASportsHD #ThePavilion #HBLPSL9 #WasimAkram #MohammadHafeez #MisbahUlHaq #AzharAli #FakhreAlam #QGvLQ pic.twitter.com/0iGhdg4EVs
— ASports (@asportstvpk) March 10, 2024
“Even with the new ball, we all were watching it together, he was bowling half volleys. He needs to understand that batsmen now have understood that the first two balls from Shaheen will be yorkers. In the death he will either bowl slower cutter or will on the stumps around the wicket. Batsmen are prepare for it now,” he added.
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