The missing link in Shaheen Afridi's bowling is discipline: Waqar Younis

Waqar Younis, former Pakistan skipper, advised Shaheen Shah Afridi to bowl like ace Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah, given his dismal performances in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup. Shaheen failed to impress in Pakistan’s three games so far in the tournament, having picked up only four wickets and conceding 139 runs at a dismal economy rate of 6.31. 

Younis stated that the Pakistan pacer has lost his discipline in all three matches he played so far in the marquee event.

"I don't know if there is a problem with his fitness. The missing link in his bowling is discipline, and he is over trying to get wickets. When you do the same thing again and again like Shaheen is bowling to get his yorker going, then batsmen know that, and they are ready for it,” Waqar Younis was quoted as saying by The Daily Star. 

Younis further cited Bumrah as an example, highlighting the Indian pacer’s attack against Pakistan in Ahmedabad, which the two-time champions won by seven wickets. Bumrah picked up the wickets of Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan to finish with excellent figures of 2/19 in seven overs and went on to win the Player of the Match award. The 29-year-old is the joint wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup, with eight wickets at an excellent economy rate of 3.44.

"Bumrah is creating pressure and his line is top of the off stump. He bowled so well against Pakistan and created pressure to get wickets," the former cricketer added.

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The cricketer-turned-commentator went on to say that he feels the absence of Shaheen’s regular new-ball partner, Naseem Shah, may have affected his performance. The 51-year-old added that no one can claim Pakistan losing their discipline because they missed one bowler. Naseem, 20, was ruled out of the competition after sustaining a shoulder injury during the rain-curtailed clash between Pakistan and India in the Asia Cup 2023 in September.

"Naseem is a good bowler and doesn't give many runs away.  When Naseem creates pressure, batsmen take chances with other bowlers, and they get wickets. I don't think it's because of missing just one bowler, but it's because they are not keeping it simple,” Younis concluded.