Ricky Ponting backs Shaheen Afridi to do it for Pakistan

Shaheen Afridi (Source: AP Newsroom)

Pakistan's star pacer Shaheen Afridi has received the backing of former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting to deliver for his side in the knockout stage of the T20 World Cup 2022.

After suffering from knee injury which might have caused him to miss the entirety of mega-event, Afridi was back to his best when he grabbed 4/22 against Bangladesh in the last game. Even though he wasn't fully fit, he was still able to bowl at a decent pace and pick wickets for his side.

Now, Ponting while speaking to ICC opined that a player like Shaheen can never be discounted considering he is their match winner who can turn the things. He mentioned that he feels Afridi is going well and even if he is not 100% fit, he can deliver on the big stage just like Virat Kohli is doing it for India.

"He might say that he's not back to 100 percent just yet, but from what I've seen it looks like he's going along beautifully and he now holds the key for Pakistan progressing in the tournament,

“It's almost a bit like the India scenario with Virat (Kohli) coming into this tournament. Sometimes you just have to stick with them and pick them and let them go because champion players will find a way to get the job done. And as the tournament's gone on he (Afridi) has got better and better and hopefully the best is still to come.”

Pakistan will next be facing New Zealand in the first semi-final on 9th November at Sydney Cricket Ground.

Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav showed T20 cricket isn't about power: Matthew Hayden