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Does Shaheen Shah Afridi need to be part of Pakistan's ODI plans?

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Kaka4pope

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One thing missing from this Pak line-up is height, across all formats in fact. Though it is far too early for Shaheen to play tests, should he be given a chance in ODIs?

We have a lot more ODIs than T20s coming up and I feel that with a world cup just about far enough away, would be good to see what he can do - wouldn't limit him to T20s.

I do feel the third seamer spot is open, and his height alone makes him a different proposition to what we have at the moment...
 
The fortunate thing for him is that he is still young and has a lot of potential.
 
Yes.

Need to go with this attack for the WC:

Amir
Hasan
Shaheen
Shadab
Faheem
 
Still think he needs polishing, tbh. He can be devastating in one spell, and equally get spanked in another.
 
1) He should have been in the squad for the Zimbabwe ODI series. It was poor planning not to include him.

2) We need a back-up right arm seamer.
 
Kaka4pope said:
That is a very nice attack, with the potential to get better. Shaheen looks like he means business when he bowls.
Click to expand...

In his second T20 match, he took out Finch (#1 ranked T20 batsman) and Maxwell (#6 ranked T20 batsman).

He has the ability to extract bounce, swing, and support it with capable pace that can only improve from here on out.

If he makes his debut in the WC, he can be the unknown bowling X-Factor which in every Pakistan tournament victory, had one.

1992: Aqib Javed and Mushtaq Ahmed.
2009: Mohammad Amir.
2017: Hasan Ali.
 
Needs to work on his action and release.

He's a genuine quickie who with more gym work and running can be express over 90mph consistently.
 
Pakistan needs an opening bowler with an attacking mindset to complement Amir and Shaheen fits the bill. Yes he is inexperienced but his growth and progress will grow in the national set up rather than being left to rot in domestics with poor coaches and against mediocre batsmen.

Also Pakistan is missing a bowler with real height who can achieve steep bounce at pace. Shaheen has all the ingredients of a fast bowler:

1. Pace - consistently hitting 90mph
2. Steep Bounce - standing far taller than Amir (circa. 5ft11) and Hasan Ali (5ft7) at 6ft6
3. Swing and seam

Unlike Wahab he can bowl multiple lengths whether it be a short pitched rip snorter or a yorker as we saw in the PSL when he took 5/4. His good length deliveries are tough to hit because of the steep bounce as we saw Maxwell struggling to hit him in the second encounter against Australia of the recently concluded tri-series in Zimbabwe, so this shows he has a smart bowling IQ for someone so young.

Usman Khan Shinwari and Junaid Khan lack the pace, variety and overall quality to be consistent ODI performers. Rumman Raees relies heavily on his variation of slower balls and they will not work on faster pitches as evident in the NZ whitewash series. These bowlers at best are either back up options in the squad or A team players.

The lift he gets stems from his tall appearance adding a new dimension to Pakistan's front line pace attack and a much needed addition in order to boost the variety to the strike bowlers - consisting of Amir's prodigious swing and run stemming along with Hasan Ali's skiddy pace, slower balls and reverse swing.

As his body matures we'll see this prodigy hit 150 and if he can maintain good fitness levels, his skill set and attributes as a bowler will enable him to take the pitch out of the equation - just like we're seeing with Mitchell Starc terrorise batsmen in the most batting friendly ODI era.

Given Pakistan plays in the most unforgiving conditions at home for pacers it will be difficult for Amir, Hasan Ali and Abbas to make consistent returns but Shaheen can be an exception because he has all the ingredients to succeed in all conditions.

The sooner he plays a more regular role in bilaterals, the more chance he'll be ready in time for next year's world cup. A very exciting prospect and due to the resemblance in his bowling action and physical features he could soon become Pakistan's very own Mitchell Starc!
 
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No. Let him play T20s.

He looks too raw and he likely won't be ready by the next world cup 2019.

After the world cup we can look to include him. But atm we already have three pacers fighting for the third spot in Shinwari, Raees, Junaid. We don't need another, who I feel would be less consistent than those three right now.
 
coy0607 said:
feel like you can say that about any Pakistani bowler
Click to expand...

You might as well have said "any bowler".

My argument is because of his age and sheer raw and green potential. He has a long way to go before he can be a stable member in the starting XI.
 
Absolutely. His spell against Australia was a treat to watch. Need to be inducted in the ODI squad to add depth for WC 2019.
 
Pakistanis usually pick a player and throw him in the deep end and watch him either sink or swim... some of the best players have come out that way.


I think Afridi will thrive under a challenge like that.. it doesn’t get any bigger than the World Cup to announce yourself.. I wish he does get picked.. we play nine matches.. plenty of opportunity to rotate bowlers!
 
He is a complete package. Except the bouncer. He does not possess a good enough bouncer which is strange for a guy his height.
 
Well you guys are forgetting about shinwari! You guys think he should be preferred over shinwari? I totally forgot about him!
 
He should have been in the ODI squad against Zimbabwe.

These are the fast bowlers that should be taken to the World Cup:

Usman
Hasan
Amir
Shaheen
Junaid/Rumman
 
Your strength is bowling you should take this squad, with 8 bowlers and 7 batsmen.

F ZAMAN
I UL HAQ
S FARHAN

A ALI
B AZAM
S AHMED
S MALIK

I WASIM
S KHAN

F ASHRAF
H ALI
J KHAN
M AMIR
S AFRIDI
U KHAN

FARHAN in for Hafeez and Afridi in for Haris.
 
I like this squad for world cup.
Fakhar Imam
Farhan
Babar
Haris
Sarfaraz
Asif Talat
Faheem
Shadab
Hassan Shinwari
Amir Yasir
Shaheen
 
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Kohli said:
Your strength is bowling you should take this squad, with 8 bowlers and 7 batsmen.

F ZAMAN
I UL HAQ
S FARHAN

A ALI
B AZAM
S AHMED
S MALIK

I WASIM
S KHAN

F ASHRAF
H ALI
J KHAN
M AMIR
S AFRIDI
U KHAN

FARHAN in for Hafeez and Afridi in for Haris.
Click to expand...

Haris should be in the squad.

Imad should be nowhere near it.
 
Kaka4pope said:
One thing missing from this Pak line-up is height, across all formats in fact. Though it is far too early for Shaheen to play tests, should he be given a chance in ODIs?

We have a lot more ODIs than T20s coming up and I feel that with a world cup just about far enough away, would be good to see what he can do - wouldn't limit him to T20s.

I do feel the third seamer spot is open, and his height alone makes him a different proposition to what we have at the moment...
Click to expand...

Fine, but why then not also consider Sadaf Hussain, who last time I checked was the second tallest bowler in the country after Irfan, and has been putting in mind boggling ODI performances for years? Don't pretend that height or even performance is what makes you excited about this youngsta.
 
New Yorker said:
Fine, but why then not also consider Sadaf Hussain, who last time I checked was the second tallest bowler in the country after Irfan, and has been putting in mind boggling ODI performances for years? Don't pretend that height or even performance is what makes you excited about this youngsta.
Click to expand...

Because he's rubbish.

Was taken to the cleaners in the recent One Day Cup.

Stop quoting his performances from years ago.
 
mak36 said:
[MENTION=134981]Bhaag Viru Bhaag[/MENTION] is right. At the very least, we need a specialist spinner in the squad who can play as a second spinner when conditions suit.
Click to expand...

Not sure I see anyone with the potential to be of that quality in Pakistan.
 
babajee said:
Not sure I see anyone with the potential to be of that quality in Pakistan.
Click to expand...

It is a problem, yes.

No-one is really knocking down the door. There are players that can be picked on potential but most likely will need a good domestic season to be in contention. To that end, I'm excited to see the likes of Zafar, Asghar and Usama Mir play a full domestic season. Looks like Yasir is also in contention.
 
Too raw at this point,. Needs a year or two of grooming before he is exposed to ODI and Test cricket.
 
mak36 said:
Because he's rubbish.

Was taken to the cleaners in the recent One Day Cup.

Stop quoting his performances from years ago.
Click to expand...

Right. By years ago, you mean last year. 2017. This year, both played the Pakistan Cup,
and Shaheen averaged 48, while Sadaf averaged 42. But one of the has averaged about 18
in recent years, while the other, currently, averages 46. The conclusion is clearly that while
the one who averages 46 matures and develops his game, we should never ever dare select
the one who averages 18.
 
If he can trouble finch and Maxwell on the dead pattas of Zimbabwe...then he is quite good to play....OR may be just keeping him as a surprise package for the world cup is good. But hr has immense potential.
 
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