Former PCB Chief Ramiz Raja Calls Shaheen Afridi And Haris Rauf 'Slow'

image-lh0tvhmyHaris Rauf (Source: AP Newsroom)

Pakistan's express pacers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi have been the most consistent bowlers for their side especially in white ball cricket. The duo together have taken Pakistan to unprecedented heights as they make the opposition fear them with extreme pace on display.

However, in the recent game against New Zealand, both the bowlers received a heavy beating from the batters conceding over 60 runs in their 10-over spell but managed two wickets apiece as Pakistan were thumped for 291 runs in 50 overs. Nevertheless, Fakhar Zaman's masterclass innings of 117 runs saved the day for the home side as they chased the total down in 48.3 overs.

Now, the former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja on his YouTube channel has reflected on the following and said that both Rauf and Afridi have lost a bit of their pace and they need to work on that to ensure that they are effective enough in ODI cricket.

He lambasted them for not bowling at their full potential while saying that their speed has to be upped on a regular basis.

"There is a question mark hovering over Haris Rauf, and I think it's because he isn't as effective as a length bowler. He either bowls good yorkers or has a good change of pace, and in T20s, when batsmen take chances, he takes wickets easily. In ODIs, bowling is different, and I think he needs to increase his pace to be more effective.

"Overall, his pace has decreased, I don't know if he himself is bowling with less pace. Let's say there is a 10-over spell, then I can understand not exerting too much pace in 2-3 overs, but overall, I think his pace needs to be increased a bit more. Shaheen Afridi also needs to increase his average speed of 136 and go up by a notch or two when he bowls forward."

After this victory, Pakistan will next face New Zealand on 29th April in the 2nd ODI to be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.