Asia Cup: No excuse for bad bowling, Shahid tells Shaheen Afridi

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi expressed disappointment with star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi’s performance during the Asia Cup 2023 match against India.

The Green Shirts suffered a resounding defeat against their arch-rivals, resulting in India’s largest-ever One Day International (ODI) victory in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Monday.

During an interview discussing the bowlers’ display, Shahid Afridi stressed the importance of Shaheen’s consistency in maintaining his line and length.

“You cannot become frustrated if you fail to secure wickets in the initial two overs; making excuses is not acceptable,” stated the 46-year-old, who is also Shaheen’s father-in-law.

Shahid Afridi also commented on the overall bowling performance, noting that despite favorable pitch conditions, the team’s bowling was subpar. He commended the fast-bowling skills of Naseem Shah and questioned why Shaheen did not adopt a similar length in his bowling.

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Addressing the queries raised by fans regarding the team’s decision not to bat first after winning the toss, Shahid Afridi remarked, “If we had bowled effectively, the outcome could have been different, as seen in Naseem Shah’s early innings performance. Shaheen should have emulated Naseem’s approach, but his line and length were not up to par.”

He added, “I believe India had secured victory within the first 20-25 overs.”

Nevertheless, the veteran all-rounder offered advice to the team, urging them to make a comeback and focus on rectifying their mistakes.