Cricket World Cup 2023 Legend From Pakistan Instructs Shaheen Afridi To Follow Jasprit Bumrah's Lead
Waqar Younis, a Pakistani icon, suggested on Monday that Shaheen Shah Afridi, a misfiring strike bowler, could take a cue from Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah to help him succeed at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Shaheen has not performed well in any of the three World Cup matches, taking four wickets at a cost of 139 runs. He is having trouble with his pace and fitness. Waqar, an Indian pundit, told AFP, "I don't know if there is a problem with his fitness." "He is too eager to obtain wickets and lacks discipline in his bowling. "When you do the same thing again and again, like Shaheen is bowling to get his yorker going, then batsmen know that and they are ready for it."Waqar advised Shaheen to emulate Bumrah, whom he characterised as a "top bowler."With eight wickets at 11.52, the Indian spearhead is tied for the World Cup lead in wicket-taking.Mitchell Santner of New Zealand and quick bowler Matt Henry of Australia each have eight victims.On Saturday, India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in Ahmedabad, with Shaheen unable to assist Pakistan defend a paltry 192-run goal.Bumrah, on the other hand, bowled Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan with two well-timed deliveries to finish with 2-19 in seven overs."Bumrah is putting pressure on, and his line is at the top of the off stump." "He bowled so well against Pakistan and put pressure on us to get wickets," Waqar added.Since collecting 16 wickets in five World Cup games in the United Kingdom four years ago, Shaheen, 23, has led Pakistan's new-ball assault.He has been compared to previous great Wasim Akram, who was regarded as one of the best left-arm pacers in cricket history with 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets.During the Pakistan-India match, former India allrounder Ravi Shastri slammed the analogy, saying, "Shaheen is no Wasim Akram," claiming that the Pakistan star is "not special."Waqar believes Shaheen's performances have suffered as a result of the absence of frequent new-ball partner Naseem Shah, who is out of the World Cup due to a shoulder injury."Naseem is a good bowler and doesn't give many runs away," Waqar remarked of the 20-year-old."When Naseem creates pressure, batsmen take chances with other bowlers and they get wickets."Pakistan's bowling, according to Waqar, has been "lacking discipline" in three World Cup games, with two wins and one loss."I don't think it's because of missing just one bowler, but it's because they are not keeping it simple."Australia will play Pakistan next Friday in Bengaluru. Pakistan defeated the Netherlands and Sri Lanka before losing to India.