Even world's finest batters don't want to face Shaheen Afridi: Shaun Tait

Pakistan bowling coach Shaun Tait has said that pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi is a world-class bowler and top batters all over the world do not wish to face him. Tait also explained why facing Shaheen is an intimidating experience for the batters.

Shaheen has been Pakistan’s frontline pacer in the last few years as he has been in the selectors and team management’s scheme of things across formats. The left-arm speedster had also received the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy as the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year 2021.

Sometimes it’s about his presence: Shaun Tait on Shaheen Afridi

“Sometimes it is not even his [Shaheen] pace, sometimes it’s about his presence, standing at the top of his mark, and world finest batter think they don’t want to face this bowler,” said Tait while interacting with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) podcast.

“The way the crowd gets involved when he is bowling is all that theater. Most right-handers know they will be tested with an in-swinger but still, they don’t have any answers to it,” added Tait.

Meanwhile, Shaheen has been playing continuously for the last few months and also made time to feature in the 2022 County Championship for a short stint where he represented Middlesex. Apart from winning the ICC award for individual excellence, this year has also been good for the tall fast bowler collectively as well.

Under his captaincy, the Lahore Qalandars won their maiden PSL title in February by getting the better of an in-form Multan Sultans who were also the title-holders. Afridi has been in good form in the last couple of years and he got instant recognition after his match-winning spell against arch-rivals India in the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE. He accounted for the Men in Blue’s famed top order including the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli as Pakistan successfully registered their maiden World Cup win over India.