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He likes blowing flying kisses more than taking wickets: Shoaib Akhtar on Shaheen Shah Afridi

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Pakistan suffered their second defeat on the UK tour against a second-string England team at Lord's, London, on Saturday (July 10). Opting to bowl first after a half-hour rain delay, the Pakistan bowlers made a terrific start and scalped 2 wickets in five overs.

Riding on a 97-run partnership between Philip Salt (60) and World Cup winner, James Vince (56), England bounced back after the early stutter.

The Pakistan bowlers failed to keep the pressure on and England ended up putting up a total of 247 on the board. The total proved to be enough as Pakistan were bowled out 195, losing the tie by a 52-run margin.

Pakistan's below-par performance against the Ben Stokes-led side gave another opportunity to the former cricketers to criticise the members of the Babar Azam-led side. And once again, Shoaib Akhtar criticised the Men in Green.

Akhtar criticised Shaheen Afridi for his celebration and asked the youngster to scalp more wickets rather than celebrating with flying kisses and hugs.

“Shaheen Afridi likes blowing flying kisses more than taking wickets. At least take five wickets or run through a batting lineup before these hugs and flying kisses. What’s the point of doing it after just one wicket,” Akhtar told Cricket Pakistan.

“Don’t give excuses like the team wasn’t gelled in. They [England] assembled a team two and half days before the match and they were able to gel in but you weren’t despite being together for 30 days. You lost to England’s academy team,” he added.

Afridi bowled an impressive spell of 8-0-37-1 in the 2nd ODI. He was Pakistan's sole wicket-taker in the opening game, which the visitors lost by a margin of 9 wickets.

The Pakistan team has struggled across departments in the series so far and might make some changes for the 3rd ODI, to be played on Tuesday (July 13).

The two teams are also scheduled to play three T20Is from July 16. Eoin Morgan and England's first-choice players are expected to be back for the 20-over fixtures. The T20Is will be played on July 16, 18 and 20.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...shaheen-afridi-after-defeat-in-2nd-odi/783422
 
Now hes just being jealous and stupid saying rubbish for Youtube $$$
 
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Gullycricket said:
Now hes just being jealous and stupid saying rubbish for Youtube $$$
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Jealous of what? Getting thumped by England C?

Would you celebrate a wicket when your team has no chance of winning the game? Why do our players care more about personal achievements than the teams achievements?

Shoaib is right, and people have a hard time of accepting the truth.
 
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YousafTheBeast said:
Jealous of what? Getting thumped by England C?

Would you celebrate a wicket when your team has no chance of winning the game? Why do our players care more about personal achievements than the teams achievements?

Shoaib is right, and people have a hard time of accepting the truth.
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His job is to take wickets and he's doing that. Targeting someone who is least of our problems and by someone who used to do all kinds of stupid celebrations reeks of stupidity. It's ridiculous. Our players celebrate that's a problem and if they don't they are bland and boring. I would agree with Shoiab if he made this comment for Rauf or Shady but it's stupid to target Shaheen.
 
Shoaib has a point , there’s nothing wrong with celebrating if you’ve delivered something special - go and get a 6-16 or 5-25 , or even a 4 for 22 where you’ve ripped apart the opposition’s top order - and then blow kisses all you like.

These guys get one wicket and celebrate like they’ve won the World Cup for their country single handedly.

I remember seeing Hafeez fist pumping in celebration once after scoring a painful and scratchy looking 50 , might have been against Zimbabwe or Hong Kong if I remember rightly.. by all means celebrate but do something special first.
 
I agreed with Shoaib on Shaheen Afridi...

I think PCB has taken too seriously to make a brand from nothing.. every other day they release videos of team players doing some thing (like Shaheen Afridi welcoming Haris Rauf in Central Contract, wth is that)
Shaheen is been with a team for more than 3 years (and except for taking 5 wickets vs Bangladesh in dead rubber, what exactly he has done) Again his numbers are bloated by taking wickets against second string teams or Zimbabwe

He is a leg stump bowler
 
Gullycricket said:
His job is to take wickets and he's doing that. Targeting someone who is least of our problems and by someone who used to do all kinds of stupid celebrations reeks of stupidity. It's ridiculous. Our players celebrate that's a problem and if they don't they are bland and boring. I would agree with Shoiab if he made this comment for Rauf or Shady but it's stupid to target Shaheen.
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen Shoaib doing the aeroplane celebration when the team had 0% chance of winning the game, you can correct me if I’m wrong.

Why is it stupid to target Shaheen? Because he’s performing? But the teams losing? Doesn’t the teams performance mean more than your own performance?

Even if it was Wasim Akram, I’d say the same thing. Why are you celebrating when the team is losing.

Would Messi take his shirt off after scoring when Barca are losing 5-0? And if he did would it look good?
 
YousafTheBeast said:
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Shoaib doing the aeroplane celebration when the team had 0% chance of winning the game, you can correct me if I’m wrong.

Why is it stupid to target Shaheen? Because he’s performing? But the teams losing? Doesn’t the teams performance mean more than your own performance?

Even if it was Wasim Akram, I’d say the same thing. Why are you celebrating when the team is losing.

Would Messi take his shirt off after scoring when Barca are losing 5-0? And if he did would it look good?
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How could Shaheen have known after taking Crawley's wicket inside the first powerplay that his team would lose?

Surely Akhtar has done aero plane celebrations even when team lost as he also obviously couldnt have predicted the result.

If he or Shaheen would have been doing it when other team needs 10 runs and are 4-5 down even after taking the wicket you have taken than that would have been silly.

Yes if every bowler should be doing celebration after every wicket or not is another matter and another discussion.
 
When Shaheen takes wickets - that is at the start of the innings - his expectation is that things are going his and Pakistan's way, so he is happy.
 
Maybe would have been better to make such comments after a bad bowling performance, but Shaheen bowled reasonably well yesterday.
 
YousafTheBeast said:
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Shoaib doing the aeroplane celebration when the team had 0% chance of winning the game, you can correct me if I’m wrong.

Why is it stupid to target Shaheen? Because he’s performing? But the teams losing? Doesn’t the teams performance mean more than your own performance?

Even if it was Wasim Akram, I’d say the same thing. Why are you celebrating when the team is losing.

Would Messi take his shirt off after scoring when Barca are losing 5-0? And if he did would it look good?
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Titan24 said:
How could Shaheen have known after taking Crawley's wicket inside the first powerplay that his team would lose?

Surely Akhtar has done aero plane celebrations even when team lost as he also obviously couldnt have predicted the result.

If he or Shaheen would have been doing it when other team needs 10 runs and are 4-5 down even after taking the wicket you have taken than that would have been silly.

Yes if every bowler should be doing celebration after every wicket or not is another matter and another discussion.
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Good reply [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]. We are not losing due to Shaheen' celebrations , it makes no sense to target him and it's just useless controversy. Will Shoiab Akhtar have guts to make similar video on Kohli who has celebrated wickets in a certain loss in ridiculous manner most recent being WTC. Why such double standards for YouTube $$$.
Shaheen takes wickets to help his team to win , he can try to do. If brainless Faheem and Rauf and Shadab ruin his figures should we blame them or his celebration... What logic is this. He has earned right to celebrate every wicket because he is a brilliant bowler with a brain. Akhtar should know better
 
Titan24 said:
How could Shaheen have known after taking Crawley's wicket inside the first powerplay that his team would lose?

Surely Akhtar has done aero plane celebrations even when team lost as he also obviously couldnt have predicted the result.

If he or Shaheen would have been doing it when other team needs 10 runs and are 4-5 down even after taking the wicket you have taken than that would have been silly.

Yes if every bowler should be doing celebration after every wicket or not is another matter and another discussion.
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Key word here, ZERO percent chances of winning. And I was referring to the first ODI, when Pakistan had ZERO percent chances of defending 140. Yet Shaheen is celebrating after taking a wicket, what a loser mentality. Celebrate when you take 2-3 wickets like Saqib did, do it when you get your team back in the game, not when we’re being thumped.
 
I'm sure there will come a time when our batsmen will start celebrating every run :)
 
YousafTheBeast said:
Key word here, ZERO percent chances of winning. And I was referring to the first ODI, when Pakistan had ZERO percent chances of defending 140. Yet Shaheen is celebrating after taking a wicket, what a loser mentality. Celebrate when you take 2-3 wickets like Saqib did, do it when you get your team back in the game, not when we’re being thumped.
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140 has been defended many times in ODIs before.Shaheen got an early wicket and with an inexperienced Eng lineup he would have thought there is a chance
 
Fully agree with Shoaib here

I think just by observing the way our bowlers celebrate the most useless wickets - Shaheen vs Crawley, Rauf whenever he gets a tailender out after 8 overs of spanking, Hasan with his generator being the notable examples of late- it gives a clear picture of how low the standards our players set and how content they are with mediocrity.
 
Saurav said:
140 has been defended many times in ODIs before.Shaheen got an early wicket and with an inexperienced Eng lineup he would have thought there is a chance
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When was the last time a target of 140 was defended in England vs England?

England needed 120 from what, 260 balls when Shaheen took the wicket? I know it’s an England C team but let’s not forget the only reason why they’re not in the England team is because England’s first xi has better players, it’s not because the players in the England c haven’t been performing. They perform, but not as good as the England first xi. They’re not some rookies who haven’t played at the highest level.

Pakistan had Zero chances of defending that total, and anyone that disagrees is clearly high on some kush
 
Stupid statement. Just because the team gave an embarrassing performance doesn't mean you start attacking every single player.

And Shoaib should be the last person to be pointing fingers at the way Shaheen carries himself, especially after al the things he did during his playing career. You could practically make a list.
 
Shaheen is overrated and it's about time it starts being pointed out. He rarely has a bad game but he isn't winning games for Pakistan either.

Saqib and the other C team English players outbowled Shaheen by some margin, and they ought to have no right to do that given he is supposed to be our premier bowler.
 
YousafTheBeast said:
When was the last time a target of 140 was defended in England vs England?

England needed 120 from what, 260 balls when Shaheen took the wicket? I know it’s an England C team but let’s not forget the only reason why they’re not in the England team is because England’s first xi has better players, it’s not because the players in the England c haven’t been performing. They perform, but not as good as the England first xi. They’re not some rookies who haven’t played at the highest level.

Pakistan had Zero chances of defending that total, and anyone that disagrees is clearly high on some kush
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the same team was 160-7 despite 97 run partnership between Salt/Vince.They are way behind main England team

RRR was immaterial. but if 20-1 could have been converted into 50-4,England would have been pressure.Unfortunately Hasan Ali had a bad day,releasing all pressure Shaheen build.

Anyway to think the game is over at halfway stage is not the attitude you need
 
Majid Khan said:
Shoaib has a point , there’s nothing wrong with celebrating if you’ve delivered something special - go and get a 6-16 or 5-25 , or even a 4 for 22 where you’ve ripped apart the opposition’s top order - and then blow kisses all you like.

These guys get one wicket and celebrate like they’ve won the World Cup for their country single handedly.

I remember seeing Hafeez fist pumping in celebration once after scoring a painful and scratchy looking 50 , might have been against Zimbabwe or Hong Kong if I remember rightly.. by all means celebrate but do something special first.
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How about Imran Tahir?

He celebrates taking a meaningless wicket as if it was last session of the day 5 of the Test Cricket WC final, 89.3 overs had been bowled and only 3 ball would remain for the day, opposition required 2 runs to win with three wickets in hand, Tendulkar was facing, with Don Bradman and Viv Richards to come, and Imran Tahir takes a hattrick of getting all three cleaned bold.


Fabian Allen is the best though.
 
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Colorblind Genius said:
How about Imran Tahir?

He celebrates taking a meaningless wicket as if it was last session of the day 5 of the Test Cricket WC final, 89.3 overs had been bowled and only 3 ball would remain for the day, opposition required 2 runs to win with three wickets in hand, Tendulkar was facing, with Don Bradman and Viv Richards to come, and Imran Tahir takes a hattrick of getting all three cleaned bold.


Fabian Allen is the best though.
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I’ve nothing against players celebrating , I still look back at enjoy Wasim Akram’s iconic celebration after taking wickets of Chris Lewis and Alan Lamb in the WC 92 final — but you know what I enjoyed even more then Wasim’s celebration, was the magnificent bowling from Wasim Akram that evening. His bowling literally won the World Cup for Pakistan that day , and he earned it to celebrate in style.

Yet remarkably if anyone had not watched that game and you looked at Wasim’s bowling figures from the 92 final and it doesn’t look that special - 3 for 49 from 10 overs , with 6 wides and 4 no-balls… but the fact is he bowled his heart out and came out a champion. I can’t think of any other 3-wicket haul in cricket history that has been watched, remembered and written about as much as that spell by Wasim - and his celebration you will never forget.

However these days you get these wannabe heroes who get one wicket and think they are WWF stars.. might as well give Shaheen a music theme tune too, like that of Stone Cold Steve Austin every time he takes a wicket.
 
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Majid Khan said:
Shoaib has a point , there’s nothing wrong with celebrating if you’ve delivered something special - go and get a 6-16 or 5-25 , or even a 4 for 22 where you’ve ripped apart the opposition’s top order - and then blow kisses all you like.

These guys get one wicket and celebrate like they’ve won the World Cup for their country single handedly.

I remember seeing Hafeez fist pumping in celebration once after scoring a painful and scratchy looking 50 , might have been against Zimbabwe or Hong Kong if I remember rightly.. by all means celebrate but do something special first.
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Majid bhai and his commentary on Hafeez Vol 3.0 will never get old :yk :)))
 
Saurav said:
the same team was 160-7 despite 97 run partnership between Salt/Vince.They are way behind main England team

RRR was immaterial. but if 20-1 could have been converted into 50-4,England would have been pressure.Unfortunately Hasan Ali had a bad day,releasing all pressure Shaheen build.

Anyway to think the game is over at halfway stage is not the attitude you need
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Completely different conditions, also England were batting first when they were 160-7, they weren’t chasing.

Fine, celebrate when the opposition is 50-4, not when you still require 9 wickets to win and have only 120 more to defend.
 
The only thing wrong with Shaheen celebration is his cringeworthy kiss blows as we are dominating oppositions.
 
It's a non issue, but Shaheen hasn't stepped up like we would like him to. At the moment, just another run of the mill bowler that picks up one or two wickets a game.
 
Bring back the days when it was a quick handshake when a bowler took a wicket :)

In fact I recall seeing some of the greats not even bothering to celebrate wickets at times and instead just walking back to their mark ready to bowl the next ball.
 
Kroll said:
It's a non issue, but Shaheen hasn't stepped up like we would like him to. At the moment, just another run of the mill bowler that picks up one or two wickets a game.
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He can be dangerous when he's on song, but like most Pakistan bowlers he has too many games where he is releasing pressure with too many loose deliveries. That's the difference between a good bowler and a world class one.
 
Shaheen likes to be called The Eagle apparently.

I'm pretty sure at first he was doing an eagle-type move, but nowadays the blowing of kisses has been added.

Blowing kisses - not my cup of tea from a fast-bowler.
 
Saj said:
Bring back the days when it was a quick handshake when a bowler took a wicket :)

In fact I recall seeing some of the greats not even bothering to celebrate wickets at times and instead just walking back to their mark ready to bowl the next ball.
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Someday a research on the origin of cricketing / sporting celebrations will be worth taking up.
 
Celebrations are insignificant. Nobody cares if you celebrate or not. We make big deals out of nothing.

Shaheen has been quite unlucky to not take many wickets this series. A lot of balls going just past the edge.

He is the only bowler on our team who walks into most teams in the world.

Akhtar needs to stop analyzing people's celebrations and analyze the cricket he's being paid to do. Delusional.
 
If the guy wants to celebrate, let him celebrate. Akhtar taking the moral high ground yet boast about his performances where Pakistan actually lost
 
Shaheen Shah Afridi is very talented but still raw. For me, you have to come down on a system that doesn't understand how to develop cricketers.

Shoaib is right, SSA has very few if any signature performance for Pakistan.
 
Shaheen has gone missing against Australia, England, New Zealand, India so far. Yes he is our best fast bowler but he has not delivered as a spearhead should.
 
UzmanBeast said:
Celebrations are insignificant. Nobody cares if you celebrate or not. We make big deals out of nothing.
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Technically and theoretically correct.
But practically it's a little different.

Fans are human beings and they have emotions and reactions. It comes pretty natural to us.

Fans reacting to celebration styles may vary from fan to fan. You can't expect the fans to be robots.

And if celebrations had no meanings or if they were insignificant, then why would the players instigate it in the first place?


Personally, I feel that Imran Tahir's celebration is way over the top; however, he is free to celebrate the way he wants it. And by the same logic, I have the freedom to express my reactions as a fan.

On the other hand, I feel Fabian Allen's reaction is funny and suits the atmosphere.

And then don't even get me started on giving these sajdaas at the ground. We have a whole thread about it.

But yeah, at the end of the day, it's really not a big deal, and players must be let to celebrate whichever way they want to in civilized manner.

However, the players may also need to be aware that the fans have the right corelate their celebrations with their over all performance.
I think almost everything when done in moderation, usually ends up well.
 
Gullycricket said:
Now hes just being jealous and stupid saying rubbish for Youtube $$$
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Jealous?

Shoaib is a king pin premier bowler. Genuine big wicket taker and a top draw of Pakistan cricket. Shaheen so far hasn’t even emulated the quality and star power of Umar Gul yet. He’s not someone who excites people to watch Pakistan games
 
Shaheen Afridi is a dead rubber bowler

Even after being with team for more than 3 years; what he has learnt is beyond me

He is no impact bowler, never looks like taking wickets (may be in very rare occasion)
 
iniqbal223 said:
I agreed with Shoaib on Shaheen Afridi...

I think PCB has taken too seriously to make a brand from nothing.. every other day they release videos of team players doing some thing (like Shaheen Afridi welcoming Haris Rauf in Central Contract, wth is that)
Shaheen is been with a team for more than 3 years (and except for taking 5 wickets vs Bangladesh in dead rubber, what exactly he has done) Again his numbers are bloated by taking wickets against second string teams or Zimbabwe

He is a leg stump bowler
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Completely inaccurate post. He has played 20 matches against teams which ARE NOT Bang, Afg or Zimb and has picked 34 wickets in 20 matches at an average of 27. Aged just 21 that is remarkable. He also has 4 wickets in back to back matches against NZ.
 
Savak said:
Shaheen has gone missing against Australia, England, New Zealand, India so far. Yes he is our best fast bowler but he has not delivered as a spearhead should.
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Bowls too short.

Pakistani bowlers are famous for pitching it right up and targeting the stumps, lbw.

SSA gives the impression he is only looking for the edge to the slips.
 
Colorblind Genius said:
Technically and theoretically correct.
But practically it's a little different.

Fans are human beings and they have emotions and reactions. It comes pretty natural to us.

Fans reacting to celebration styles may vary from fan to fan. You can't expect the fans to be robots.

And if celebrations had no meanings or if they were insignificant, then why would the players instigate it in the first place?


Personally, I feel that Imran Tahir's celebration is way over the top; however, he is free to celebrate the way he wants it. And by the same logic, I have the freedom to express my reactions as a fan.

On the other hand, I feel Fabian Allen's reaction is funny and suits the atmosphere.

And then don't even get me started on giving these sajdaas at the ground. We have a whole thread about it.

But yeah, at the end of the day, it's really not a big deal, and players must be let to celebrate whichever way they want to in civilized manner.

However, the players may also need to be aware that the fans have the right corelate their celebrations with their over all performance.
I think almost everything when done in moderation, usually ends up well.
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I agree, but calling out Shaheen makes no sense especially given how incredible his ODI statistics are.

He is regarded as most around the world as Pakistan's best bowler given our current team.

Moreover, he does not have attitude problems like our very own Shoaib Akhtar, nor did he fail drug tests and get banned like our very own Shoaib Akhtar. He's a good lad, and he has a bright future ahead of him.

Yes, Akhtar is no doubt one of our best ever bowlers, but picking on a 20-year old is cheap even by his own standards. You can't expect Shaheen at his current age to have the same bowling skill as guys like Starc and Boult who are about 10 years older than him. He will learn more as he goes along.
 
freelance_cricketer said:
Bowls too short.

Pakistani bowlers are famous for pitching it right up and targeting the stumps, lbw.

SSA gives the impression he is only looking for the edge to the slips.
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The issue with Shaheen is partly what you say, but his height also works against him on most occasions. Modern-day players are too good off their pads, so anything which remotely pitches full can be driven or bashed. The white-ball barely does much nowadays except for in English conditions, so bowling it full can be a risk, and with the abundance of T20 cricket, it's no surprise that Shaheen looks for the edge more than LBW.

His action is quite a high-arm action, which I think prevents him from keeping it accurate whilst pitching it up fuller. I think he should try and mimic Mitchell Starc to some extent when trying to bowl it full: make his action a little bit more slingy. He will be at his best when he learns to challenge both the pads and the edges, it will make him quite effective in all conditions.

Additionally, most modern day bowlers don't put too many full deliveries because of a lack of assistance, except in test cricket. Back when the ball would reverse, you could afford to pitch it up a bit fuller so that the ball did something to help you.

Our of our current lot, I think Hasan Ali is going to be very successful in the near future as his length is on the stumps, so any error from the batsman or assistance from the pitch will likely get him wickets.
 
Some people just like to moan about everything because negativity and stupid remarks like this breed clicks and likes on social media.

I watched that statement he made, it's on YT if anyone cares to watch, and although he said it in a snarky way he was being serious. I get he's a fan, and feels the way we feel at times, but stuff like that, and statements made by other former players are only there to stoke the already swirling pot of pity and slumped shoulders.
 
freelance_cricketer said:
Bowls too short.

Pakistani bowlers are famous for pitching it right up and targeting the stumps, lbw.

SSA gives the impression he is only looking for the edge to the slips.
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Two 4 wicket hauls against NZ on the dead pitches of the UAE and averages just 10 against them, only had 1 game against India so not sure where you're getting this from? Can you please explain?
 
Shaheen needs to learn from the King himself. Should go celebrate his wickets at night in clubs.
 
Shoaib too had that incredibly long run up to impress the ladies. Shaheen sends kisses to Lala's daughter who happens to be his fiancee I believe:afridi. Imran Tahir did the same a few years back too that did not affect his performance. If anything trying to impress your spouse or future partner can be motivational. At least Shaheen is not fighting in nightclubs or getting involved in needless controversy. Remember your own playing days Shoaib before pointing the finger at others.
 
Not good enough, not smart enough to tie the shoe laces of legends of Pakistan's fast bowling such as Shoaib Akhtar and Wasim Akram
 
Afridi is too nice. Smiling despite most of his deliveries being despatched to the boundary
 
Shaheens been a disappointment for quite sometime and it’s not because he’s not talented or doesn’t have the skill, more so it’s just his low cricketing iq which has been an issue for 95% of our bowlers over the last decade.
 
Don't give a toss about what Akthar says.

Shaheen, however, really needs to tap into his aggression to get the best out of his abilities. Kind of like how he does in the PSL. Him, Hasan, and Rauf have to be proper hostile, and not just the odd stare and words after being already hit around for a few.

Surely, Waqar would have noticed this.
 
He doesn't have a brain. He can see Salt is in good form and is driving the ball well and he proceeds to give him 4 half volleys in a row. He doesn't use his height well enough. For such a tall guy he really has a non-existent bouncer
 
He has been mediocre for quite a while now, while the likes of Naseem, Musa, Hasnain, Rauf etc have been massacred to no end.
 
Amir, Wahab and Junaid Khan for all their weaknesses look a class above the current lot of Naseem, Shaheen, Rauf, Hasnain.
 
Got to feel for Shaheen, having to lead the bowling attack at the age of 21. If it was any other country Shaheen would be the 3rd best bowler in the starting xi.

Shaheen will peak at around 28-29, and that would’ve been the right time for him to be leading the attack, but because we lack quality new ball bowlers, he’s being forced to play every game in all formats. The guy needs a break.
 
Well he has 3 overs left today - 3 very big overs to lift his team and bring them back into this match.
 
That last lbw appeal shows his cricketing iQ too - appealing for lbw with a ball hitting pads about a meter away from the stumps.
 
Im surprised he did not fly kisses when the game was over and he was being thrashed everywhere
 
Shaheen has been Waqar'd. Poor guy is recieving no other support other than from a terrible coach.

The best thing Hasan Ali did was get out of the side and go to domestics. He was actually able to learn how to bowl there.
 
Somebody needs to educate Shaheen to bowl more cutters on such flat pitches. You cant keep bowling 86-88 mph in this day and age. Everybody is used to facing pace now thanks to bowling machines.

This is one area where M Amir has edge over Shaheen.
 
Man whatever about the displays Pakistan have such a toxic media set-up around its teams.

Just packed with bitter ex players who are more interested in personally abusing players to boost their own media profiles than offering any actual insight.
 
Donal Cozzie said:
Man whatever about the displays Pakistan have such a toxic media set-up around its teams.

Just packed with bitter ex players who are more interested in personally abusing players to boost their own media profiles than offering any actual insight.
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Very happy people are laying into this over-rated bowler. Shaheen has been a disaster in recent times and has not won any games for Pakistan.
 
I don't know why his manager was calling him Sheena during the match lol it was so weird but tbh he has not proved much in international cricket yet. Take out his figures against Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and SL and then see his average.
 
Shaheen is the best bowler in the team his performance had declined but he doesn't get much support from the other end.he will come back strong
 
shamaan said:
Shaheen is the best bowler in the team his performance had declined but he doesn't get much support from the other end.he will come back strong
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It’s Waqar ‘I’m here for a holiday’ Younis job to help him get to the next level.

Otherwise he’s just turning into another run of the mill bowler.
 
Never rated him highly from the start, he bowls some fluke balls that take wickets occasionally I’ll give him that - but he just doesn’t seem to have the street smartness and cricketing sense or IQ that you expect from a world class fast bowler. He doesn’t seem intelligent enough as a bowler to be able to exploit the weaknesses of a tailender batsman , never mind deceiving a top class batsman into playing the wrong stroke.
 
Majid Khan said:
Never rated him highly from the start, he bowls some fluke balls that take wickets occasionally I’ll give him that - but he just doesn’t seem to have the street smartness and cricketing sense or IQ that you expect from a world class fast bowler. He doesn’t seem intelligent enough as a bowler to be able to exploit the weaknesses of a tailender batsman , never mind deceiving a top class batsman into playing the wrong stroke.
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He’s got age on his side, i think he’s done well for a 21 year old, and he’ll only get better, faster and stronger. He’ll probably peak around 28, he has 7 years before we can really judge him. Let him peak before we judge him.
 
Agree with Shoaib

Also Hassan Ali's celebration after taking a wicket is over the top. Once in a while is palatable but not after every time you take a wicket. It gets a bit monotonous. First become a consistent performer let alone a great player. Then such antics might be in order. Showing aggression as a pace bowler is fine though. Greats like two W's and esp. Imran Khan never had to resort to such cheap gestures or wild celebrations
 
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Someone described him as the "shortest tall bowler in the world"

You'd expect someone of his height to have fierce bounce as a weapon but how often do you see Shaheen rough up a batsman?

Again it brings into question what Waqar has been doing for the past 2 years, because Shaheen has learnt and developed nothing in that time.
 
I think he needs a rest in the 20/20 format. He has not got the experience or talent yet to be our spearhead in Test matches, ODI's and 20/20.

I actually think right now his best format is test matches with close catchers and batsmen don't attack so much. It's draining his confidence to constantly get hit for boundaries in white ball cricket by batsmen who are not exactly world beaters.
 
AZulfi said:
Agree with Shoaib

Also Hassan Ali's celebration after taking a wicket is over the top. Once in a while is palatable but not after every time you take a wicket. It gets a bit monotonous. First become a consistent performer let alone a great player. Then such antics might be in order. Showing aggression as a pace bowler is fine though. Greats like two W's and esp. Imran Khan never had to resort to such cheap gestures or wild celebrations
Click to expand...

Imran, Akhtar, Wasim, Waqar were great bowlers and knew how to celebrate, when to celebrate and not look like a fool.

Mediocre bowlers like Hassan Ali and Shaheen kill it with their repetitive celebration. Hassan Ali is way over the top with his celebration.
 
PakHammer said:
I think he needs a rest in the 20/20 format. He has not got the experience or talent yet to be our spearhead in Test matches, ODI's and 20/20.

I actually think right now his best format is test matches with close catchers and batsmen don't attack so much. It's draining his confidence to constantly get hit for boundaries in white ball cricket by batsmen who are not exactly world beaters.
Click to expand...
He has done nothing in Test cricket so far to suggest that is his best format. He is a decent bowler, who has been hyped to the moon while the other bowlers get spat on.

Just in this series, Haris Rauf who has atleast taken wickets (despite getting smashed) has been lambasted just because of his background, while only a few have had the courage to criticize the golden boy wonder.
 
Think its ok if you get Malan out like that - its ok to blow a kiss!
 
What an absolutely stunning caught and bowled. Blow 5000 kisses for that.
 
This is why you dont doubt your best bowler. I hope Akhtar is watching.
 
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