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"All talk, no play": Priyank Panchal destroys 'overhyped' Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi

Akshita Patel

Ex-India star slams Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf [Source: @ahsan_shah90/X.com]Ex-India star slams Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf [Source: @ahsan_shah90/X.com]

Former Gujarat skipper and India’s domestic cricket great Priyank Panchal has launched a scathing attack on Pakistan’s star pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. His remarks came right after India’s dominant six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash.

Pakistan, batting first, put up 171/5 in their 20 overs. However, their bowling lacked the bite fans usually expect. Afridi, once considered Pakistan’s spearhead, was taken apart by India’s top order.

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Tilak Varma smashed him all around the park as he ended with miserable figures of 0/40 in just 3.5 overs.

Ex-domestic star rips into Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf’s false hype

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), former Indian domestic cricketer Priyank Panchal did not hold back, calling out the false hype around Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.

"I’ll always fail to understand the hype around Shaheen Afridi. Classic case of a few good deliveries years ago lengthening someone’s faltering career. No zip, no pace, no discipline. I’ve seen first-class bowlers deliver better spells with more consistency," Panchal said.

Panchal said Indian domestic circuit bowlers are much more consistent than these two. He added that false hype has made Afridi and Rauf look like superstars, but in reality, they’re mediocre at best.

"I struggle to remember the last time Haris Rauf was effective. All talk, no play. Whole of Pakistani team is built on players hyped up internally by their ecosystem, who fizzle out internationally. False bravado can only take you so far in a game rewarding meritocracy," he added.

Notably, Shaheen Afridi has picked just one wicket against India since his 3-wicket spell in the 2021 T20 World Cup. His average through this period is 126.00.

Haris Rauf shows signs of being a sore loser

Meanwhile, with a defeat against India inevitable, Haris Rauf stooped to a new low, making questionable gestures to the Dubai crowd who were booing him with ‘Kohli, Kohli’ chants.

He made a “6-0” gesture toward the crowd, a reference to Pakistan’s unverified claims of downing six Indian fighter jets. He even mimicked crashing planes, a reaction to fans mocking him after consecutive sixes by Virat Kohli.