The Lahore Qalandars suffered elimination from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 following their defeat against the Quetta Gladiators in their last group stage match. Under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Qalandars struggled to hold their ground in the closing five overs, ultimately succumbing to a gripping final-over showdown. In a crucial moment, Afridi was hit for a six on the last delivery of the over by Gladiators’ fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Wasim Akram criticizes Shaheen Afridi’s bowling performance
Former Pakistan cricket captain and renowned commentator Wasim Akram didn’t hold back in expressing his disappointment with Afridi’s bowling performance during the crucial match. Akram highlighted Afridi’s struggle in the death overs, emphasizing his lack of variation and predictability, which ultimately allowed the opposition batsmen to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
“Shaheen is a very experienced bowler. He is the captain of Pakistan team as well. He is playing international cricket for five years now. 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,” said Akram while speaking on ‘The Pavilion’ show.
Akram analyzed Afridi’s bowling strategy
Akram dissected Afridi’s bowling strategy, pointing out his tendency to stick to a predictable pattern of deliveries, particularly in the death overs. He emphasized the need for Afridi to adapt and evolve his bowling tactics to keep the opposition batsmen guessing and maintain pressure during crucial phases of the game.
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“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,” the legendary pacer added.
Afridi’s ‘shush’ celebration draws ire from Akram
Adding fuel to the fire, Akram also criticized Afridi’s post-fifty celebration, where the cricketer put his fingers on his lips in a gesture seemingly aimed at his critics. Akram viewed this celebration as unnecessary and believed that Afridi should focus on letting the specialist power hitters in the team fulfill their roles instead of promoting himself up the batting order.
“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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