Pakistan’s pace attack has always been a force to reckon with in world cricket. This time, in the T20 World Cup, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah trio are in the limelight. While Shaheen and Rauf are experienced speedsters, Naseem proved himself with some sensational spells during the Asia Cup 2022.
It’s no surprise that Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is banking heavily on these stars to sail the team through the marquee tournament and into the finals. Cricket fans keep their fingers crossed over how the trio will perform against India when the arch-rivals face off in the Super 12 stage on Sunday.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that Rauf will be a more significant threat than Shaheen in the upcoming match between India and Pakistan on Sunday. The 45-year-old has weighed in on the current potential of the two and opined that Shaheen is yet to be at his best.
“But I feel the bowler be wary of on Sunday, isn’t Shaheen? It’s Haris Rauf. Afridi is getting close to his best but isn’t there yet…and is unlikely to be by the 23rd. Rauf will bowl the tougher overs and has the potential to make a difference,” explained Chopra in his post on Twitter.
But I do feel the bowler to be wary of on Sunday isn’t Shaheen. It’s Haris Rauf. Afridi is getting close to his best but isn’t there yet…and unlikely to be by the 23rd either. Rauf will bowl the tougher overs and has the potential to make a difference. #IndvPak #T20WorldCup
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 19, 2022
The former Indian batter praised Shaheen’s in-swinging yorker for dismissing Afghanistan’s opening batter today in a warm-up match.
“Full…swinging…fast. Shaheen Afridi is getting close to his best. Gurbaz’s toe agrees,” wrote Chopra on Twitter.
Full…swinging…fast. Shaheen Afridi is getting close to his best.
Gurbaz’s toe agrees. 🫣 #T20WorldCup— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 19, 2022
Shaheen played two warm-up games at the T20 World Cup, bowling figures of 0/7 (2 overs) and 1/29 (four overs) against England and Afghanistan, respectively.
Meanwhile, Rauf bowled well against Afghanistan, taking two wickets. Rauf was also the leading wicket-taker in the September home series against England.
The last time Shaheen faced India in the T20 World Cup in 2021, he ran through the top order, dismissing Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli. He had also dismissed Rohit with an inswinging yorker for a golden duck.
