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'Pathans are Very Rugged..' - Shoaib Akhtar Praises Pakistan's Pace Bowling

image-lmaat3liShaheen Afridi & Co. [Twitter]

In a recent interview, former Pakistan cricketing legend Shoaib Akhtar showered accolades upon Pakistan's pace bowling unit, lauding their consistent performances ahead of the 2023 Cricket World Cup. 

The "Rawalpindi Express" was particularly effusive in his praise for Shaheen Afridi and his fellow fast bowlers, underscoring their exceptional statistics in One-Day International (ODI) cricket.

All three of Pakistan's premier fast bowlers - Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah - have been consistently taking two wickets per match, with Naseem Shah even more prolific, almost notching up three wickets per match on average. 

Akhtar's admiration for the emerging talents was evident as he spoke highly of their abilities, emphasizing the unique strength of the Pathan cricketers among them. He expressed delight in Pakistan's ability to continuously produce outstanding fast bowlers, a trend that has persisted through the years.


Here's what he said 

“Obviously, these youngsters are very, very talented. I am very happy that Pakistan is able to produce such fast bowlers over and over again. I don’t know what the reason is. First, there used to be a lot of fast bowlers from Punjab. Now, there is one from Rawalpindi, and two are Pathans. And the Pathans are very, very rugged and tough.” 

Akhtar drew special attention to Shaheen Shah Afridi, whom he labeled as one of the premier fast bowlers in the world at present.

“This pace battery reminds me of the old days. One of the best fast bowlers in the world right now, I would say, is Shaheen Shah Afridi. He is on top of his career right now. Haris Rauf has the same mindset again to take wickets. Even Shaheen Shah has the same mindset,” 

Shoaib Akhtar's comparisons between the current pace battery and the legendary fast bowlers of yesteryears are sure to evoke nostalgia among cricket fans worldwide. He singled out Shaheen Shah Afridi as one of the best fast bowlers in the world at the moment, emphasising his peak performance during this phase of his career.