What's new

Third pacer for 2019 World Cup matches - Is Shaheen Shah Afridi good enough?

Joined
Mar 19, 2016
Runs
57
We have a winning xi against SA but one remaining question is Shaheen Afridi, was he good enough today? He could be a target in remaining matches.

Who would you play as a third pacer (mod's can we have a poll?)

Shaheen Afridi (has not been dangerous enough in my opinion)
Hassan Ali (Out of Form)
Mohamemd Hasnain (Fast bowler - not played a WC game yet)

I would say we give Hasnain a game!
 
Should try Hasnain given Hafeez and Haris can cover him in case he doesn't bowl well (i believe he will though).
 
Weakest Link - Shaheen Afridi?

Now that we have moved on from terrible, mediocre Malik, all of a sudden our team looks somewhat respectable with good depth in bowling and batting.

However there is one player in our current team, Shaheed Afridi, who hasn't delivered yet in any of the game and has continued to strugle mightily which has been well documented, could be our weakest link. He may get better over time but looking at the current trend there is a high probability he may not able to produce match winning performance. He even got thrashed by Afghanistan batsmen in a warm game for crying out loud. He is a risky start imo.

Now the question is should the management stick with winnning combination and play it safe or be proactive by replacing him with, experience Hasan Ali who could be very handy with the bat, or the x factor Hasnain. It's do or die moment. I for one would like to see Hasnain in the starting 11, none of the remaining teams have ever faced him so that could be a surprise package. Plus I don't think he could do much worse than Afridi but there is more upside. It's all about risk to reward ratio. Any thoughts?
 
Shaheen had been bowling really well for Pakistan before the WC, infact he was the spearhead when Hasan and Amir were struggling in series matches for a year or so, hence, in my opinion we have to persist with Shaheen Afridi and hope that his old form is back in upcoming matches.
 
At this stage I'm indifferent between Shaheen and hasnain.
We cAnt be sure how hasnain will go. May be worth a try given Kiwis haven't faced him
 
I was at the SA game, and I feel that Shaheen is gradually getting his rhythm back. And the ball that got Miller was a peach. I think we should persist with him, as it will take a few games for Hasnain to find his optimum rhythm
 
No he's not. And neither is Hasnain. Our selectors thought we will pick them as x-factors, turned out to be blunders. Unfortunately Hassan became a nutcase in the tournament, as we all thought him and Amir would be leading the way.

I would rather play Hassan over Shaheen and Hasnain and hope he starts bowling at the stumps more frequently. That's all you can do at this stage. Playing Hasnain is far, far too risky because teams will target his first couple of overs and put him under pressure for the rest of the match.
 
He's a kid, won us the series against New Zealand, was our best pacer in SA. Persist with him, just because he isn't the second coming of Wasim doesn't mean he's not worth it. Does India discard every player that isn't a Tendu or a Kohli?
 
He's a very good bowler, but looks out of form. There's also the factor that the attack looks one dimensional with 3 left arm pacers. Maybe give Hasnain a shot?
 
Shaheen is an excellent player. Young players are inconsistent in every sport. We need to back him as he is the future of our team.
 
A captain able to make bold decisions would really take Pakistan cricket to the next level - but Unfortunately we’ve only had two that I recall, one the current PM and then his protege the great Wasim Akram.

Take this situation and look at the facts on ground:

1. Shaheen’s bowling has been awful to say the least, so far on this England tour.

2. Hasnain is still an unknown, has some pace and could unsettle or at least leave some suspense for the teams facing Pakistan in NZ, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

3. Hasnain has a point to prove if given a chance with his first World Cup game and can with the right coach and captain be motivated and inspired to go and give it his all and show the world what he’s capable of doing.


4. Is it even that big a risk, what’s the worst possible outcome? that the scorecard will have the same poor figures against a bowler’s name, except the name might be Hasnain instead of Afridi or Hassan.
 
Husnain should replace shaheen, its a no brainer.
It won't happen!
Shaheen has the potential to lose us the match against NZ!
Hasnain has the potential to win us the match against NZ by taking a couple of early wickets, perhaps the dangerman's kane "the big run machine" wicket!
 
Husnain should replace shaheen, its a no brainer.
It won't happen!
Shaheen has the potential to lose us the match against NZ!
Hasnain has the potential to win us the match against NZ by taking a couple of early wickets, perhaps the dangerman's kane "the big run machine" wicket!
Lose this match and pakistan's world cup hopes will "RIP"!
 
A Pakistani speedster bowling at express pace v New Zealand has always proven lucky for Pakistan over the years, just thinking back in 90s with Wasim, Waqar, even M Zahid on test debut taking 10, Shoaib v Kiwis in WC 99, and I’m sure even a young Mo Sami fired v NZ.

Someone should give Hasnain the license to go flat out and let it rip v NZ.
 
He bowls poorly in his first spell and then better in his next spell. Should not be given new ball in WC anymore. You can not give 10 an over in your first 3 overs.

Pakistan should open with Aamir and Imad/Hasnain. Hassan Ali is also too expensive with the new ball.

Having said that Shaheen is a long term investment. He should play a couple of years in domestic on flat pitches and learn the hard way, will be beneficial for him and Pakistani.
 
Mohammad Hasnain certainly deserves a chance, almost everyone struggled against Australia and England in the series matches. We shouldn't separate him from everyone.

I can see him bowling really well and knocking out some big guns, this will also give our attack some variety.
 
I would take Shaheen over Hasan any day. Give the kid a break he is a very good bowler just need some confidence and backing. Playing him consecutively will enhance his confidence. He bowled a decent spell
against SA at upfront.

Amir needs some support at the other end and Shaheen can provide it once he start pitching in right areas

Hasnain should get a game against Afganistan. constant chopping and changing blokes robs everyone from confidence
 
Both Aamir and Wahab have looked class apart from Shaheen who in my opinion has been a big disappointment in England. There's really nothing special in Shaheen's bowling. It is just gun barrel straight with zero variation and no pace.

Hasnain deserves a go ahead of Shaheen against New Zealand. What was the point of his selection if the team management does not have any confidence in his ability?

It is not the end of road for Shaheen. He looked really good before the England ODIs. He may be carrying an injury. There is no point in playing him when he's clearly struggling in every match.
 
And supposedly there were doubts about him :D
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Absolute brilliance from Shaheen Shah Afridi. He's bowled with pace, aggression, consistency, accuracy and swung the ball. Fans giving him a standing ovation. <br><br>7-3-11-3<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NZvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ajv1aZFSDj">pic.twitter.com/Ajv1aZFSDj</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1143851197448802307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Start the hype train right after one good performance and start killing him when he goes for another 90 odd runs in next match.
 
This is the most economical bowling figure for Pakistani fast bowler in last 5 worldcup.

Absolutely brilliant stuff from shaheen
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mickey Arthur "Shaheen Shah Afridi was outstanding. I can only remember him bowling one bad ball today" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NZvPAK</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1143887527629246466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Last edited:
Shaheen Afridi's 10-3-28-3 is the most economical spell by a Pakistan fast bowler in World Cups since Wasim Akram's 2-27 in Manchester in 1999.
 
He should bowl at death as well. Amir is terrible bowler at the end, his overs should be over before 44th.
 
PP is full of kneejerk reactions. Idiots were calling for his head even though he didn't even bowl that badly. Seems like most people just look at the scorecard and make conclusions.
 
Both Aamir and Wahab have looked class apart from Shaheen who in my opinion has been a big disappointment in England. There's really nothing special in Shaheen's bowling. It is just gun barrel straight with zero variation and no pace.

Hasnain deserves a go ahead of Shaheen against New Zealand. What was the point of his selection if the team management does not have any confidence in his ability?

It is not the end of road for Shaheen. He looked really good before the England ODIs. He may be carrying an injury. There is no point in playing him when he's clearly struggling in every match.

Bowled brilliant today, looked like a completely different bowler. I am glad he proved me wrong.
 
Back
Top