Pakistan is probably rushing with Shaheen Shah Afridi like India did with Jasprit Bumrah: Wasim Jaffer

Former Indian batter Wasim Jaffer felt that Pakistan are doing the same mistake India did by rushing their premier pacer into the XI after recovering from injury. Afridi missed the Asia Cup 2022 due to a knee injury and he returned for the mega ICC event in Australia having played very few games after his recovery. Pakistan took the risk of playing him in the XI straightaway and so far, the decision hasn’t been very fruitful. 

Afridi has been spotted moving slowly in the field by the experts and the 22-year-old did not look match-fit by any means. To add to that, the left-arm quick had picked up just one wicket in the three games before coming into the South Africa clash. With two losses already, Pakistan’s hopes of making the semi-finals don’t look promising.

Team understand Afridi is not match-ready and pick on that: Wasim Jaffer  

Jaffer noted India eventually paid the price for rushing Jasprit Bumrah and felt Pakistan could do the same with Shaheen Afridi. He recalled Chetan Sharma’s words on Bumrah recently and highlighted the areas that Afridi has been struggling so far. He added that Afridi’s fitness could prove costly as other team tend to take advantage of it while playing against Pakistan.

“India made that mistake, dint we? India did the same thing with Jasprit Bumrah. They rushed him into the T20Is against Australia and probably, South Africa and in the end, being injured for the most important tournament, the T20 World Cup. Chetan Sharma, the chief selector admitted that on the hindsight they have rushed him and should have taken a bit more time,” Jaffer told while speaking on 'BatBricks7 presents Run Ki Runneeti' on CricTracker. 

“I think Pakistan is probably doing the same with Shaheen Shah Afridi as they wanted him but when he is not bowling at his best, I mean with the new ball when he clicks 145 and bowls the full fast deliveries right at the stumps which we haven’t seen. Teams pick on that, they watch the games and they understand that he is not match ready and he is not at his best,” he added. 

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