Has Shaheen Afridi Become A Burden For Pakistan Team?

Afridi struggled against Bangladesh in 1st Test match [x] Afridi struggled against Bangladesh in 1st Test match [x]

Once touted as the successor of Wasim Akram, Shaheen Afridi's downfall as a fast bowler needs to be studied.

He used to be a menacing pacer, who was up for wickets in his first spell itself. However, the knee injury before the T20 World Cup 2022 ruined his career. He no longer was the tearaway pacer, who broke the backbone of many opposition batters, rather he turned into an ordinary bowler.

Knee injury, the cause of downfall

The downfall has taken place in all three formats, but especially in Tests, he looks like a pale shadow of himself. PCB is also to be blamed for Shaheen's recurring issues, considering they forced him into action, almost immediateluy after he recovered from his knee issue in 2022.

Once, he used to touch 145 km/h, but nowadays, Shaheen barely touches 135 km/h, which shows how far he hs regressed as a bowler. So much so, that he was outshined by a part-timer, Mohammad Amir in the T20 World Cup 2024.

A supremely talented player, Shaheen's body is not allowing him to play Test cricket, and bowl 20-overs in a day. He starts well in his first spell, but as the game progresses, the left-arm seamer's pace detoriates, thus, giving advantage to the batters.

Has become an average bowler, as the numbers suggest

If we talk about his Test numbers from 2023-24 season, Shaheen has played 5 Tests, and has picked up just 16 wickets. His Test average in 2023 was 39.78, and his average after a solitary game in 2024 is 48.00. The numbers clearly showcase that Shaheen lacks the cutting-edge in Tests.

With less pace on offer, batters get an extra second to play the Pakistan pacer, and it becomes easier for them to play their strokes.

The big question arises, how much longer will Pakistan persist with him? By the looks of it, the speedster does need a long-break to get match-fit, and once again deliver for his nation.