Shaheen Afridi’s declining bowling speed sparks debate
Key takeaways
- The declining bowling speed of Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has become a central topic of debate.
- According to Bazid Khan, Shaheen Afridi’s bowling speed dropped by 10 to 15 km/h during the Test match against Bangladesh.
- The former cricketer explained that a bowler’s body is often not conditioned for the rigors of long-format cricket if they primarily play four-over spells in T20s.
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Add ARY News on Google AAResize. The declining bowling speed of Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has become a central topic of debate. Following Ramiz Raja’s recent critiques, former Pakistani cricketer Bazid Khan has also attributed the pacer’s lack of pace to an excessive workload and the relentless schedule of T20 cricket.
According to Bazid Khan, Shaheen Afridi’s bowling speed dropped by 10 to 15 km/h during the Test match against Bangladesh. In his comparative analysis, Bazid noted that Shaheen’s pace has suffered due to jumping into Test matches immediately after playing T20s. He pointed out that while legends like Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee played extensive Test cricket, their pace did not diminish in the same way.
The former cricketer explained that a bowler’s body is often not conditioned for the rigors of long-format cricket if they primarily play four-over spells in T20s. “Your body is not ready for prolonged cricket if you only play T20s,” he suggested, noting that speed naturally decreases without proper stamina.