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Ravi Shastri criticises Pakistan pacer
India has maintained their winning streak against Pakistan, in the ODI World Cup history. On Saturday, India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The competition has always been between Indian batters and Pakistani pacers. India chased down a low total of 192 runs in just 30.3 overs with Skipper Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer scoring half-centuries respectively.
However, the pacers were ineffective against Rohit Sharma’s explosive batting. Shaheen Shah Afridi also underperformed with the new ball. His poor run of form continued in the World Cup. Their pace bowling department has been ordinary in the ongoing marquee tournament. He managed to dismiss Gill in the third over, but his inswinging balls were well-handled and attacked by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has criticised Shaheen for his poor show in the ODI World Cup 2023 matches.
He believes Afridi is not Wasim Akram as the pacer is often compared with the former Pakistan great. He has been brutally honest about the fact that Pakistan has to accept that Shaheen is nothing extraordinary. Their pace attack has looked decent when they have come up against quality teams.
It’s not good and you have to accept that: Ravi Shastri
Shastri while doing Hindi commentary during the match he said, "People tell me that Pakistan have a resounding bowling attack. Nakli baat hai ye sab (It’s not true at all). It’s not good and you have to accept that. You don’t have Naseem Shah at the moment, neither you got a quality spin attack."
"Shaheen Shah Afridi koi Wasim Akram nahi hai (Shaheen Shah Afridi is no Wasim Akram). I agree that he bowls with the new ball and picks up wickets but no need to give him that kind of hype. Something which is ok, you have to call it ok. No need to give them too much importance because this attack is not the best one."
Shaheen has so far taken 4 wickets in seven matches and has been expensive in his spells.