Former Pakistani fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar, has expressed his delight at Pakistan’s current pace attack, stating that it reminds him of the golden era of cricket when Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were at their peak.
Pakistan’s national team is currently blessed with one of the best fast-bowling attacks in the world, consisting of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. In the ongoing Asia Cup, co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the trio has already taken an astonishing 23 wickets in just three matches. This impressive performance serves as a strong prelude to the upcoming One-Day International World Cup, set to take place in India next month.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, a left-arm pacer, impressed everyone with his fiery spell against India in a group match that unfortunately got abandoned due to rain. He remains a potent threat as Pakistan prepares for a crucial Super Four clash against their arch-rivals on Sunday.
Speaking in an online chat organized by Star Sports, Shoaib Akhtar commented, “These young bowlers are incredibly talented, and I am thrilled to see Pakistan consistently producing such exceptional fast bowlers. This pace battery takes me back to the days of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. They exude confidence and possess a mindset that is focused on taking wickets.”
The legendary duo of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis took a combined total of over 900 wickets in One-Day Internationals (ODIs), terrorizing batsmen with their lightning-fast deliveries and lethal reverse swing.
Leading Pakistan’s pace attack is Shaheen Shah Afridi, working in tandem with his new-ball partner, Naseem Shah. However, it is Haris Rauf, the first-change bowler, who leads the bowling charts in the Asia Cup with an impressive tally of nine wickets.
Shoaib Akhtar praised the current lineup, saying, “Shaheen Shah Afridi is at the pinnacle of his career right now. Haris Rauf possesses the same wicket-taking mindset as Shaheen. My advice to Naseem Shah would be to focus more on taking wickets rather than being a stock bowler. He has incredible seam movement and can be even more penetrative.”
Pakistan has a rich history of producing outstanding fast bowlers, including notable names like Fazal Mahmood, Sarfraz Nawaz, and the World Cup-winning captain, Imran Khan.
Shoaib Akhtar confidently stated that Pakistan is the favorite to win both the Asia Cup and the upcoming World Cup, commencing on October 5. He also predicted that Babar Azam’s team would defeat India in both tournaments.
With such promising talent in the current Pakistani pace attack, fans and cricket experts await an enthralling display of fast bowling and a potential resurgence of Pakistan’s glory days.