Ravi Shastri compares Shaheen Afridi with Wasim Akram after Pakistan’s loss against India in ODI World Cup 2023
Naseem Shah was ruled out of the ODI World Cup 2023.
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Oct 15, 2023 2:50 pm
Former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri compared Shaheen Afridi and Wasim Akram during commentary. Shastri was in the Hindi commentary box during the match between India and Pakistan in the ODI World Cup 2023. As the conversation happened during the Indian innings, the former World Cup winner compares the two left-arm pacers. Shastri felt that Shaheen is a good bowler, but no match to Wasim Akram.
Shastri said that Shaheen can claim wickets with the new ball, but in the absence of Naseem, the attack looks a bit weaker. “He is a good bowler; he can claim a wicket with the new ball. But you have to admit it, if Naseem Shah is not playing and the quality of Pakistan’s spin bowling is like this, then Shaheen Shah Afridi koi Wasim Akram nai hai! Acche bowler hai,” said Shastri.
The former Indian coach felt that Shaheen was a bit overhyped. Making his comparisons with the former Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram, Shastri said that Shaheen is good, but no match to Akram. Shastri said that one must rate Shaheen as a good player, but not overrate him. Shastri felt that Shaheen was not as great as some claimed him to be.
Ravi Shastri (Source: Twitter)
‘Bolna chahiye woh theek thaak hai, chadha ke nahin bithana chahiye’ – Ravi Shastri
“Lekin itna bhi jyaada chadane ka koi zaroorat nahi hai. Jab hai theek thak, toh bolna chahiye woh theek thaak hai. Chadha ke nahin bithana chahiye ki bohot zabardast hai. Yeh nahi hai! Yeh maan na padega,” said the former Indian cricketer in the Hindi commentary box.
It translates to “(Shaheen is not Wasim Akram. He’s a good bowler, but there is no need for us to hype him so highly as well. If a player is simply a good player, we should restrict our praise to saying he is a good player. He’s not a great player, we need to admit that).” Shaheen has performed well against some good teams in the past. But at the same time, Shaheen has also struggled to claim wickets against big teams, particularly on the bigger stage.
