Legendary Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram has hit back on Shaheen Shah Afridi after Lahore Qalandars poor bowling in the death overs in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL).
On Sunday, Quetta Gladiators finally sealed a playoff spot in the PSL after four years as Mohammad Wasim pulled Shaheen Shah Afridi for a last-ball six and handed Lahore Qalandars a six-wicket defeat.
What did we just witness⁉️
Gladiator Wasim Jnr taking Quetta to the playoffs in style 😱👊#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #QGvLQ pic.twitter.com/X7Yi2DtQeZ
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 10, 2024
Akram lashed out on Shaheen for his poor bowling in the death overs against the Quetta Gladiators.
“Shaheen is a very experienced bowler. He is the captain of Pakistan team as well. He is playing international cricket for five years now,” said Akram on ‘The Pavilion.’
“He wanted to bowl a length ball but instead he should have bowled full. Edge lag ke chauka jaaye (It doesn’t matter if he would have conceded a boundary through edge) not a problem. I think it again is a learning curve for Shaheen. I think in this PSL, he is not able to bowl well in the death overs.
“The game was in control…” legendary pacer @wasimakramlive comments on #ShaheenShahAfridi‘s struggle in the death overs.#ASportsHD #ThePavilion #HBLPSL9 #WasimAkram #MohammadHafeez #MisbahUlHaq #AzharAli #FakhreAlam #QGvLQ pic.twitter.com/0iGhdg4EVs
— ASports (@asportstvpk) March 10, 2024
“Even with the new ball, we all were watching it together, he was bowling half volleys. He needs to understand that batsmen now have understood that the first two balls from Shaheen will be yorkers. In the death he will either bowl slower cutter or will on the stumps around the wicket. Batsmen are prepare for it now,” he added.
Shaheen, who has led Lahore Qalandar’s to back-to-back titles is struggling with death bowling and it has impacted the team’s performance as well. The defending champions are finishing their disastrous season with only one win in ten league games.
“In 16 to 20 overs, his economy rate is 11. He has conceded 148 runs in 13 overs that he has bowled.
“As a bowler he must be looking at this thing about how can he improve. It’s high time now that he must learn how to bowl the back of the hand slower ball. He’s got two wickets but he is not been able to do the job a a bowler,” said Wasim.
The criticism and the celebration
Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi struck a 34-ball 55, while batting at 5. In the last match against the Karachi Kings, Shaheen has scored 1, while batting up in the order and was criticised by Akram for promoting himself ahead of Sikandar Raza and David Weise, the known power-hitters.
“Shaheen scored 1 off 3, while Raza scored 22 off 16 & Wiese 24 off 9. They took the score to 177. It’s not mandatory that if you are captain you have to come out to bat. Observe the situation & whether there are better players & hitters in the dugout. If Shaheen had done that maybe they would have made 190,” Akram had said.
Belting them out of the park! 💪
5️⃣0️⃣ 🆙 for skipper Shaheen ©️#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #QGvLQ pic.twitter.com/grsh4f1VSh
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 10, 2024
On Sunday, after completing his fifty with a six off Abrar Ahmad’s bowling, the Qalandar captain celebrated it with a “shush” celebration.
Akram in the show again took a jibe on Shaheen for promoting himself up ahead of Raza and Weise.
“Shaheen got runs. But their big two hitters Sikandar Raza (got five balls) and David Wiese didn’t get a chance,” said Akram.
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