Is it time to discuss dropping Shaheen Shah Afridi from Pakistan's Test squad?

Is it time to discuss dropping Shaheen Shah Afridi from Pakistan's Test squad?


  • Total voters
    72

waseem84

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May 26, 2009
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Shaheen is fast becoming a passenger in this team who playing on reputation.

Recent record

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He has been appointed as VC but seems he may end up in the same way as Shadab in T20s if he is not careful.

Public opinion will take its toll
 
I mean who can we replace him with? Wasim Jr? Can you imagine what our pace bowling line up would look like:
Wasim Jr, Khurram, Jamal and Faheem Marsh.
 
Never had rehab for his injury, fast tracked to the world t20 to limp around and bowl 4 overs. Only making things worse now.

Drop him for his own good and let him go through a proper rehab and slowly build his pace back up.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar at one point even increased his pace from 120s to mid to late 130s. It’s doable. Just hope dehati and paindu PCB has access to such physical therapists and biomechanics specialists.
 
Need a break from cricket to regain full fitness can he take rest from PSL ? He is a quality bowler just need to get things back so break is best way to regain full form and fitness
Unfortunately that two bit league is treated with more importance than any series in Australia.

Doubt he sits out. He should be given paid time off in PSL to recover fully.
 
With all due respect, this series was always a lost cause for Pakistan. You are not winning in Australia on the back of inconsistent batsmen and a poor bowling attack.

Shaheen should have been rested. I don’t know why we are afraid to take the difficult decisions.

He is bowling 125 kph pies, which has never happened ever. Clearly not fit and the more he plays the worse his fitness will become.
 
Have said this before & will say it again. Its not injury or fitness. Its called ageing

He is NOT 23. He is most likely 29-30. At that age you start losing pace. That's why most bowlers at that age change their tactics & focus more on length & line. That's what Malcolm Marshall, Richard Hadlee, Glen McGrath Dale Steyn did & now Pat Cummins is doing

Problem with Shaheen he still thinks he has raw pace & keep looking for those glory deliveries. Except that he no more has that pace & at 135 kph those attempted inswingers into the pads end up as innocuous half volleys - to be flicked off the pads to the fence. Like that famous Rickey dialogue - your ego is writing checks you body cannot encash !

Shaheen needs to rework his game , pull back his length & aim for top of 4th stump - not the ankles. Cummins is the perfect illustration of that
 
I am thinking more on the lines of preserving his career for Pakistan
He needs to rest, recuperate and recover his bowling fitness fully. Right now he seems like a supercar on limp mode, it looks fine from the outside but the performance simply isn't there.
 
He has been found out. He needs to rework his tactics. He never was 145K bowler. Sometimes bowlers go through phases where they are in top rhythm and they start bowling quicker than usual. Those phases are few.

He should try to develop himself as a swing and seam bowler, who bowls between 135-140.

Enough pace to be a very good bowler if he sticks to a swing and seam routine.

I laugh at people who thought he was anywhere near the great Wasim Akram.
 
With all due respect, this series was always a lost cause for Pakistan. You are not winning in Australia on the back of inconsistent batsmen and a poor bowling attack.

Shaheen should have been rested. I don’t know why we are afraid to take the difficult decisions.

He is bowling 125 kph pies, which has never happened ever. Clearly not fit and the more he plays the worse his fitness will become.
I may be wrong but you're not going to win anything with the current set up.

You have an unelected coalition of crooks running the country, taking orders from a foreign country when almost 175 million people are living in abject poverty...
A government that picks a cricketer with a somewhat shady past as the sports minister and then makes him the chief of the cricketing body... then they talk about bringing an ex con match fixer in to become an advisor...

Things like Safaraz making his debut in 2007...
Averages 20 odd in foreign conditions...
Yet he's now playing test cricket in 2023 (almost 2024) and gets selected ahead of a guy who averages 40+ outside of Asia.....

You couldn't make this stuff up

Honestly, joking aside, this is the first time in my life where I haven't had any expectations whatsoever for our team... in fact zero interest in even watching it.

I would rather watch darts on tv then to see Pakistan cricket team play.

That emotional connection with Pakistan Cricket seems to have finally broken.
 
He has been found out. He needs to rework his tactics. He never was 145K bowler. Sometimes bowlers go through phases where they are in top rhythm and they start bowling quicker than usual. Those phases are few.

He should try to develop himself as a swing and seam bowler, who bowls between 135-140.

Enough pace to be a very good bowler if he sticks to a swing and seam routine.

I laugh at people who thought he was anywhere near the great Wasim Akram.
No, his pace definitely reduced and he is struggling to beat the batsmen in the air due to that lack of pace.

His go-to-ball is suffering and he has lost tremendous amount of confidence.
 
No, his pace definitely reduced and he is struggling to beat the batsmen in the air due to that lack of pace.

His go-to-ball is suffering and he has lost tremendous amount of confidence.

This is his normal pace.

Unless you are 150k plus you won't beat Batsman in air with pace.

At his 135-140 pace he can beat Batsman with movement and he should look at developing that.

Right now he only thinks of bringing the ball into the right handed Batsman. That's it. He needs to learn to move it away. Develop the scrambled seam cutters.

And yes cut down on useless T20s
 
No, his pace definitely reduced and he is struggling to beat the batsmen in the air due to that lack of pace.

His go-to-ball is suffering and he has lost tremendous amount of confidence.
His go-to-ball is lethal when delivered at 145 kph but pretty innocuous at 135 kph. But he still does not get it

Thats why he needs to rework his tactics & pull his length back to top of off stump / 4th stump
 
I don’t know why people keep harping on about Shaheen having a fitness issue. There’s nothing to suggest that at all.

IMO, his arm speed looks a lot slower compared to what it was and I think that has to do with a technical issue post elbow injuries.
 
This is his normal pace.

Unless you are 150k plus you won't beat Batsman in air with pace.

At his 135-140 pace he can beat Batsman with movement and he should look at developing that.

Right now he only thinks of bringing the ball into the right handed Batsman. That's it. He needs to learn to move it away. Develop the scrambled seam cutters.

And yes cut down on useless T20s
He is definitely at 5 KPH slower than what he was 18 months ago. He was never consistently 140+, but he would regularly be able to touch 145. Now you’d be lucky to see him cross 140 once in an innings.
 
This is his normal pace.

Unless you are 150k plus you won't beat Batsman in air with pace.

At his 135-140 pace he can beat Batsman with movement and he should look at developing that.

Right now he only thinks of bringing the ball into the right handed Batsman. That's it. He needs to learn to move it away. Develop the scrambled seam cutters.

And yes cut down on useless T20s
What garbage are you spewing?

How is this his normal pace? He is clearly 10k down on pace.
 
Aaaww he needs a break…

What happened Shaheen? Rest chahiye? India ke khilaaf khelna hai to make your stocks rise? Awww, you wanna play the BBL for easy money??
 
Since he got that dubious ICC award and the comparisons with Wasim Akram, success has got into his head. I hate when he poses after taking every wicket even when the opposition has scored close to 500 runs and it's just his first and only wicket. Or when he has gone for 7 per over in an ODI. Keep this celebration only when you have taken a vital and match-changing wicket.

When you imagine and fantasize that you are already the best in the world then you will hardly work on your game. He is obediently following his father-in law footsteps who wasted his talent by becoming a media darling. Needs to get dropped and would hopefully get back to his senses.
 
Since he got that dubious ICC award and the comparisons with Wasim Akram, success has got into his head. I hate when he poses after taking every wicket even when the opposition has scored close to 500 runs and it's just his first and only wicket. Or when he has gone for 7 per over in an ODI. Keep this celebration only when you have taken a vital and match-changing wicket.

When you imagine and fantasize that you are already the best in the world then you will hardly work on your game. He is obediently following his father-in law footsteps who wasted his talent by becoming a media darling. Needs to get dropped and would hopefully get back to his senses.
Maybe it’s a Saya Corps instruction? The celebration no matter when brings money and sponsors? it’s great for new age Pakistan fans aesthetics
 
Then he should just play as an advertising model.
Yeah it’s actually lovely seeing a tall, fair skinned bloke with brownish hair running in like a leopard and getting Sharma lbw, and then raising his arms as if he has taken his 600th Test wicket. Imran Khan of this day and age nostalgia vibes. Maybe he can go into the drama industry and star alongside Mehwish Hayat. That would be great for the new age fans
 
Sorry guys. Dil ro raha hai mera…

Watching how the Australians bowled and then comparing to Shaheen’s performances. There is just so much heartache I can take. My beloved Pakistan team
 
Not only dropping from test, but all forms of cricket and regain his fitness and form, and earn his spot again and then come back..

Dropping him for tests..is what I think..he would actually like..so that he can focuss on t20s and ODIs, mainly t20s and he can playthose leagues around theworld.. he should be told to rest, regain his form and play first class cricket, before he can get back to side.
 
Since he got that dubious ICC award and the comparisons with Wasim Akram, success has got into his head. I hate when he poses after taking every wicket even when the opposition has scored close to 500 runs and it's just his first and only wicket. Or when he has gone for 7 per over in an ODI. Keep this celebration only when you have taken a vital and match-changing wicket.

When you imagine and fantasize that you are already the best in the world then you will hardly work on your game. He is obediently following his father-in law footsteps who wasted his talent by becoming a media darling. Needs to get dropped and would hopefully get back to his senses.
Exactly, his flying kisses after every random wicket even after getting humiliated is one of the most absurd ways of celebration you will see from any international level cricketer. His FIL adopted the same tactic and played for 20 years. Sometimes, I feel these guys only care for their personal milestones, they have nothing to do with team's performance
 
He’s finished. Needs to retire. Done d fd and are soo delusional on here. He can rest for 2 years and still will trundle in at 74 mph.

He has sadly abused his body and burnt himself too the ground…. very rarely does a bowler recover when this happens eg amir.
 
No use resting him, India did that with Bumrah and he came back more mediocre then ever, cost them another ICC title
 
He’s finished. Needs to retire. Done d fd and are soo delusional on here. He can rest for 2 years and still will trundle in at 74 mph.

He has sadly abused his body and burnt himself too the ground…. very rarely does a bowler recover when this happens eg amir.
Shahid Afridi and Aqib Javed will be making some big decisions for him now.

Retire from Test and prolong your white ball career…or just end up like your elder bro with nothing to show at international level 10-15 years from now
 
Not only dropping from test, but all forms of cricket and regain his fitness and form, and earn his spot again and then come back..

Dropping him for tests..is what I think..he would actually like..so that he can focuss on t20s and ODIs, mainly t20s and he can playthose leagues around theworld.. he should be told to rest, regain his form and play first class cricket, before he can get back to side.
Yes, should be dropped from all formats, he is the guy who left the field after bowling 2 overs in T20 WC final. He must play few seasons of county cricket and earn his place on merit. I wonder when Abbas can be permanently discarded after few bad series why this logic cannot be applied on others
 
I don't want him to retire from red-ball cricket. Our red-ball game is declining. We need stars in our red-ball squad. He just needs a two-month break from all formats of the game, play domestic, and then return to the national side. I hope he will bounce back to glory.
 
He is definitely at 5 KPH slower than what he was 18 months ago. He was never consistently 140+, but he would regularly be able to touch 145. Now you’d be lucky to see him cross 140 once in an innings.

5k from his peak rhythm phase. That phase will come again and will go away again. In long term he will be bowling 135-140 in tests. He will be quicker in white ball. Late 130s to early 140s.

But he won't bowl 145 regularly in the long term.

He needs to polish his skills. Get more arrows in his quiver.

He has enough pace to be a very good fast bowler.

But 2 years from now he will retire from tests and in 5 years he will concentrate on leagues. Unless someone keeps him away from Shahid Afridi.
 
I dont know why Pakistani fans are so restless and impatient. How can you remove your best bowler? He needs good bowling partners, he needs a couple of express bowlers. He cant be the spearhead and also carry the whole attack. Instead of talking about removing him from the team, think about reducing his workload.
 
I dont know why Pakistani fans are so restless and impatient. How can you remove your best bowler? He needs good bowling partners, he needs a couple of express bowlers. He cant be the spearhead and also carry the whole attack. Instead of talking about removing him from the team, think about reducing his workload.
He actually had a great bowling partner in this Test. Khurram kept things on lock throughout the Test and built pressure for him. Don’t understand the ‘good partner’ theory.
 
His test avg pace was never 140.
Well you simply don't know or follow Pakistan cricket enough and then come up with these big statements. Always amazes me when people think it's a good idea to talk about something they have no idea about.

Here's a few matches for reference. Separated by 2 years. Waiting for if but..Screenshot_20231217-150049~2.pngScreenshot_20231217-150008~2.png
 
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I wouldn't drop him, but he needs rest.

Wasim Akram isn't sitting on the bench waiting to replace him. This is their main strike bowler and he has to be handled with care to get that average speed back to where it was before.

Right now, they are just running him into the ground.
 
5k from his peak rhythm phase. That phase will come again and will go away again. In long term he will be bowling 135-140 in tests. He will be quicker in white ball. Late 130s to early 140s.

But he won't bowl 145 regularly in the long term.

He needs to polish his skills. Get more arrows in his quiver.

He has enough pace to be a very good fast bowler.

But 2 years from now he will retire from tests and in 5 years he will concentrate on leagues. Unless someone keeps him away from Shahid Afridi.
He started of as a 135-140 bowler. Then with better fitness he was consistently in the same bracket as Bumrah, bowling 137-145.

Now he is even below starting pace and is operating 130-135.
 
I wouldn't drop him, but he needs rest.

Wasim Akram isn't sitting on the bench waiting to replace him. This is their main strike bowler and he has to be handled with care to get that average speed back to where it was before.

Right now, they are just running him into the ground.
Khurram Shahzad was toiling in domestics. He bowled HANDSOMELY better than he did on the same deck. So this excuse of ‘we have no Lara’s and Tendulkar’s on the bench or in our domestics’ needs to stop now.
 
He started of as a 135-140 bowler. Then with better fitness he was consistently in the same bracket as Bumrah, bowling 137-145.

Now he is even below starting pace and is operating 130-135.

Bumrah at his peak rhythm used to bowl at peak speed in late 140s and even touch 150 plus occasionally.

Shaheen will be back to bowling between 135 to 140 soon.
 
Well you simply don't know or follow Pakistan cricket enough and then come up with these big statements. Always amazes me when people think it's a good idea to talk about something they have no idea about.

Here's a few matches for reference. Separated by 2 years. Waiting for if but..

Picking and choosing matches like this.

We don't even know if this was only his first spell or the entire innings.

What was his speed during AUS Australia and England tours to Pakistan couple of seasons back.?
 
Lol. Now that's a proper myth. Bumrah never had those speeds.

Bumrah clocked 153ks in Australia That's his fastest.

There is a thread on it here.

Before his second back injury Bumrah was clocking 145 plus regularly in tests.


@jeetu

Do you have stats for the avg speed of bowlers in tests in last 5 years?
 
Picking and choosing matches like this.

We don't even know if this was only his first spell or the entire innings.

What was his speed during AUS Australia and England tours to Pakistan couple of seasons back.?
It was the entire spell for both games.

He didn't play vs England. He was out injured. Ofcourse you wouldn't know because you don't follow Pakistan.
 
Do the right thing

Retire from T20 domestic and bilateral cricket and prolong your career Shaheen
 
Bumrah clocked 153ks in Australia That's his fastest.

There is a thread on it here.

Before his second back injury Bumrah was clocking 145 plus regularly in tests.


@jeetu

Do you have stats for the avg speed of bowlers in tests in last 5 years?
Avg speed please. No he wasn't.

I recall a person here claimed Bumrah averaged over 140k in tests vs WI. Then I checked and found he actually average 133k -135 k across series :)

That's the way casual fans remember.
 
Bumrah clocked 153ks in Australia That's his fastest.

There is a thread on it here.

Before his second back injury Bumrah was clocking 145 plus regularly in tests.


@jeetu

Do you have stats for the avg speed of bowlers in tests in last 5 years?
Lulz. No such stats exist for last 5 years.

Damn I'm debating with a noob 🤡
 
Avg speed please. No he wasn't.

I recall a person here claimed Bumrah averaged over 140k in tests vs WI. Then I checked and found he actually average 133k -135 k across series :)

That's the way casual fans remember.
Bumrah bowed an average speed of 142 km/h in all his Australian outings. his fastest being 153 km/h, which he bowled during the first Test match of India Tour of Australia 2018, at the Adelaide Oval, outpacing Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. This is a fact go check it up not a myth like some are saying

Guys one of the goats
 
Bumrah bowed an average speed of 142 km/h in all his Australian outings. his fastest being 153 km/h, which he bowled during the first Test match of India Tour of Australia 2018, at the Adelaide Oval, outpacing Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
Source?
 
Khurram Shahzad was toiling in domestics. He bowled HANDSOMELY better than he did on the same deck. So this excuse of ‘we have no Lara’s and Tendulkar’s on the bench or in our domestics’ needs to stop now.

Shaheen has a solid track record in Tests.

Most players in such situations are given longer leashes to rework their game.

A 100% Shaheen is a very good bowler and we have seen this since his debut. This is why rest is important and he has to be worked with to get his form/speed back.

But yes, Pakistan should set up a rotation policy to try other new-ball options like Mir Hamza. I don't see too much talent in domestic cricket beyond Khurram but it's worth a shot to give Afridi a break.
 
It was the entire spell for both games.

He didn't play vs England. He was out injured. Ofcourse you wouldn't know because you don't follow Pakistan.

What about Australia? What were his speeds?

Yes he missed that England series due to injury during the T20 WC.
 
Shaheen has a solid track record in Tests.

Most players in such situations are given longer leashes to rework their game.

A 100% Shaheen is a very good bowler and we have seen this since his debut. This is why rest is important and he has to be worked with to get his form/speed back.

But yes, Pakistan should set up a rotation policy to try other new-ball options like Mir Hamza. I don't see too much talent in domestic cricket beyond Khurram but it's worth a shot to give Afridi a break.

Take out WI ZIM BAN and what is Shaheen's test record?
 

My gosh Fans like you would want a source to see if someone exists.

I watched the full 2018 series where India demolished Australia in their own backyard and where Bumrah consistently bowed 145kph on a average throughout the series his speeds didn’t drop in any spell

I’ll give you 1 other reliable source cricinfo where it shows speeds on some of the bowls he bowed throughout the match.

Just picked out 2 different venues in Australia where his speeds were excess of 140-145 kph.





 
I dont know why Pakistani fans are so restless and impatient. How can you remove your best bowler? He needs good bowling partners, he needs a couple of express bowlers. He cant be the spearhead and also carry the whole attack. Instead of talking about removing him from the team, think about reducing his workload.
This has nothing to do with bowling partner. As a frontline fast bowler, Shaheen has not won single test match for Pak against big team. He has no 5 wicket haul against SENA teams so far even after playing so many test matches.
 
My gosh Fans like you would want a source to see if someone exists.

I watched the full 2018 series where India demolished Australia in their own backyard and where Bumrah consistently bowed 145kph on a average throughout the series his speeds didn’t drop in any spell

I’ll give you 1 other reliable source cricinfo where it shows speeds on some of the bowls he bowed throughout the match.

Just picked out 2 different venues in Australia where his speeds were excess of 140-145 kph.





My guy, I want average speed. Just one game. Not some balls and then guess work.

Is ball by ball commentary to check speed of some balls your source? And then you make a tukka to guess his average speed? That's not how it works.
 
Take out WI ZIM BAN and what is Shaheen's test record?

He's been very good against South Africa and Sri Lanka too.

Plus, we're comparing him to the options in domestic cricket with no experience. Of course, if a seasoned new ball bowler like Hazlewood/Starc was on the bench, I would say it's time to sit Afridi for a while.
 
He's been very good against South Africa and Sri Lanka too.

Plus, we're comparing him to the options in domestic cricket with no experience. Of course, if a seasoned new ball bowler like Hazlewood/Starc was on the bench, I would say it's time to sit Afridi for a while.

Against SA yes.

But is SL a benchmark?

Shaheen needs to go back to the drawing board. Sort out his tactics. Polish his skills and get the PR tactics out of his mind.
 
You clearly never watched Bumrah in the 2018/19 tour of Australia. He was easily hitting high 140's and maxed out at 153.3 kph
I did watch him. Impossible that his average pace was high 140s.

140 I'm willing to believe but show me a source.
 
I did watch him. Impossible that his average pace was high 140s.
I didn't say his average pace was on the high 140's. No body bowls that quick .

Starc is the only bowler who averaged around 147 kph over a season. Haven't seen anyone average higher than that.
 
I did watch him. Impossible that his average pace was high 140s.

140 I'm willing to believe but show me a source.
I recall it was around 143 to 143 on average. Not sure if it was for the whole series however but he was frightening to play at thr time. Pace bounce and some movement too. Had it all.

He hit 153 as his fastest speed. Might be the fastest ball of the series.

But now he hovers around 137 138 mark on average. He doesn't go above 146 147 Max in tests.
 
He should retire like my ideal Mo.Amir and focus on mercenary leagues, best option for reputation and legacy
 
I recall it was around 143 to 143 on average. Not sure if it was for the whole series however but he was frightening to play at thr time. Pace bounce and some movement too. Had it all.

He hit 153 as his fastest speed. Might be the fastest ball of the series.

But now he hovers around 137 138 mark on average. He doesn't go above 146 147 Max in tests.

Thats absolutely correct. Now his avg speed is 138-139. And max speed around 147.

But his skills have become better.
 
Against SA yes.

But is SL a benchmark?

Shaheen needs to go back to the drawing board. Sort out his tactics. Polish his skills and get the PR tactics out of his mind.

Your point is a fair one.

It's only an acceptable record for a young prospect but now he's entering his prime. It's time to show up against everyone including Australia.

There's no way he should be satisfied with his current form and skillset. From my untrained eye, he seems to be finishing slightly more upright with his action and not bending his back as much as he used to. This might be due to hesitation after his knee injury or a result of half-hearted rehabilitation.

Whatever it is, it's time to work on it by taking a series or two off.
 
Thats absolutely correct. Now his avg speed is 138-139. And max speed around 147.

But his skills have become better.
Thatz what I want shaheen to focus on. Like steyn if he can maintain 135 to 145 with the new ball consistently it will be great. Later when the ball is old and his tail is up, he can push the pace and bowl 140 to 146 effort balls and try to extract bounce out of lifeless pitches.
 
Your point is a fair one.

It's only an acceptable record for a young prospect but now he's entering his prime. It's time to show up against everyone including Australia.

There's no way he should be satisfied with his current form and skillset. From my untrained eye, he seems to be finishing slightly more upright with his action and not bending his back as much as he used to. This might be due to hesitation after his knee injury or a result of half-hearted rehabilitation.

Whatever it is, it's time to work on it by taking a series or two off.

Is there any way this Afridi can be kept away from that Afridi?
 
Bumrah at his peak rhythm used to bowl at peak speed in late 140s and even touch 150 plus occasionally.

Shaheen will be back to bowling between 135 to 140 soon.
Bumrah Peak Rhythm was 143-148 . I think at peak rhythm Shaheen was 3km slower on average 140-145.

The point is that Bumrahs standard is not too far from his peak rhythm. Shaheen has dropped his considerably and he seems in denial about it. The elite level honesty is missing.
 
Absolute GOAT against West Indies and Zimbabwe
Nai yaar he was not that bad but he is terrible now. That South Africa home series was a good one where Shaheen and Hasan won us the game.

What I do not like is that these guys are not honest. When his pace declined he was in constant denial and was like "I am getting wickets though". Thats not the point you need to be honest enough to know what your USP is as a bowler.
 
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