Former Pakistan tempo greats Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis criticised the choice to relaxation quick bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi within the third and closing Check towards Australia on the Sydney Cricket Floor (SCG), with Akram warning gamers to determine in the event that they need to be the greats of their sport or a millionaire by taking part in T20 cricket. After Pakistan misplaced the sequence 2-0, Shaheen has been rested from the ultimate Check at Sydney, which can be Australia opener David Warner’s farewell Check.
Wasim claimed that call “had nothing to do with the administration” and was “solely [Shaheen’s] determination”. He warned gamers to determine “if you wish to be an awesome of the sport or do you need to be a millionaire” whereas prioritising codecs.
“Straight after this there are 5 T20s in New Zealand, and Shaheen’s the captain,” Wasim mentioned on Fox Cricket as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
“However T20 cricket, who cares? I perceive, it’s there for leisure and it’s there for monetary acquire for cricket boards, for gamers, however cricketers ought to know that Check cricket is the final word.”
“If we discuss what occurred 20 years in the past on this Check in Sydney, no person is aware of what occurred final evening in T20. That is the distinction. These guys have to know and study, if you wish to be an awesome of the sport or do you need to be a millionaire. You possibly can change into each however with slightly extra sense,” he concluded.
Waqar was additionally shocked with the choice, saying that Shaheen’s absence “made him snort” and he anticipated him to play as a result of he was wanting nice within the second Check along with his swing and tempo.
“That may be a actual shocker for me as a result of I used to be anticipating him to be part of this Check match as a result of he regarded good within the earlier match. He began feeling just like the outdated Shaheen Afridi and began to swing the ball and the tempo was getting higher,” he mentioned.
Shaheen’s workload was a priority for Pakistan after two Checks as he was main a depleted, inexperienced tempo bowling line-up and not using a lead spinner. He bowled virtually 100 overs, simply 4 balls in need of it. The second-most busiest bowler of the sequence has been Australian spinner Nathan Lyon, who has bowled virtually 30 overs lower than Shaheen.
Shaheen’s workload over a large interval has been regarding for Pakistan ever since he assumed extra duty in white-ball cricket. He’s the skipper of Pakistan Tremendous League (PSL) aspect Lahore Qalandars and has additionally inked a deal of three years with the Worldwide League T20 (ILT20) final yr.
Shaheen may also start his reign as T20I captain with five-match sequence towards New Zealand this month, simply 5 days after the third Check. Regardless of spending a lot trip because of harm, solely eight pacers have bowled greater than Shaheen since July 2022.
Pacer Naseem Shah is injured, whereas Haris Rauf additionally made himself unavailable for Checks, as an alternative taking part in for Melbourne Stars within the Huge Bash League (BBL).
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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