Shahid Afridi speaking during a TV show:
“Whether it’s early on with the new ball, in the middle overs, or at the death, you need a fast bowler. Not just any pacer, but someone sharp. And it’s not like there’s no room for one.”
“Even Faheem Ashraf, who performed really well—if you think out of the box, then I’d say that you should rest him and play Haris Rauf or any other genuine pacer. If you consider Faheem Ashraf as a fast bowler, based on what we’ve seen recently, he’s been used according to the team’s needs.”
“So, after your top five or six batters, what are your expectations? I believe we absolutely shouldn’t compromise on our spin attack. We must go with two spinners, along with Saim Ayub and others. But Saim needs to be given a clear message: you’re not playing as a bowler; you’re playing as a batter. He needs to mentally reset and focus on his cricket. He should be guided to lower the noise and concentrate on what Pakistan needs from him with the bat—deliver performances accordingly.”