Shaheen Afridi did not hav a great couple of days in Perth during the 1st PAK vs AUS Test and Ravi Shastri knew what exactly was wrong. The fiery pacer, whose ability rattle batsmen with the new ball, was displaying below-par performance in the first innings of the game. Former World Cup winner Ravi Shastri offered his two cents on Afridi’s poor show and pinned the blame partially on his teammates.
‘Real problem for Shaheen Afridi is…’
Speaking during commentary at the 1st PAK vs AUS Test, Shastri opined that Shaheen Afridi was facing the pressure of spearheading the team’s pace attack. He felt that it was further complicated as the pacer did not recieve support from his counterparts. Shastri noted that there was no bowler who could bowl past 140 kmph apart from Afridi.
“I think the real problem for Shaheen is the pressure of being the spearhead of this Pakistan attack and without much support at the other end when it comes to pace,” Shastri said during the commentary.
“You don’t have one bowler here who is even close to 140, so that puts immense pressure on someone like Shaheen,” he added.
Unusually, Shaheen Afridi managed to pick just one wicket and conceded 96 runs in 27 overs in Pakistan’s 1st innings.
PAK vs AUS 1st Test
Pakistan began Day 3, with Khurram Shahzad and Imam-ul-Haq at the crease. The nightwatchman departed shortly after play commenced in the 1st session. Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed followed suit soon, leaving Pakistan with just 4 wickets in hand and trailing by over 200 runs.
After a fiery spell from debutant Aamir Jamal, Pakistan finished Day 2 of the first Test at 132/2, trailing Australia by 355 runs. The visitors lost a couple of wickets, including their captain Shan Masood, but ended the day on a decent note.