Pakistan legend Waqar Younis on Monday advised failed strike bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi to learn from India seamer Jasprit Bumrah if he wants to make an impact at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Shaheen has been struggling with his pace and fitness and has not featured in all three matches been impressive. at the World Cup, where his four wickets cost 139 runs. “I don’t know if there is a problem with his fitness,” Waqar, an Indian commentator, told AFP. ‘The missing link in his bowling is discipline and he is trying to get too many wickets.’ If you do the same thing over and over again, like Shaheen is bowling to get his yorker going, then batsmen know it and are ready for it. “
Waqar suggested that Shaheen should follow the example of Bumrah, whom he described as a ‘top bowler’.
The Indian spearhead is the co-top wicket-taker in the World Cup with eight wickets at just 11.52.
New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner and fast bowler Matt Henry also have eight victims each.
India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in Ahmedabad on Saturday with Shaheen unable to help Pakistan defend a paltry target of 192 runs.
In contrast, Bumrah dismissed Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan with two well-executed deliveries to finish 2-19 in seven overs.
“Bumrah creates pressure and his line is at the top. He bowled so well against Pakistan and created pressure to get wickets,” Waqar said.
Shaheen, 23, has led Pakistan’s new ball attack since taking 16 wickets in five World Cup matches in Britain four years ago.
He has been compared to former great Wasim Akram, who with 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets was considered one of the best left-arm pacers to have played cricket.
But former Indian all-rounder Ravi Shastri blasted the equation during the Pakistan-India match by saying, “Shaheen is no Wasim Akram”, claiming that the Pakistan star is “not special”.
Waqar believes the absence of regular rookie partner Naseem Shah – ruled out of the World Cup due to a shoulder injury – may have had a detrimental effect on Shaheen’s performance so far.
“Naseem is a good bowler and doesn’t give away many runs,” Waqar said of the 20-year-old.
“When Naseem applies pressure, batsmen take risks with other bowlers and get wickets.”
Waqar said Pakistan’s bowling “lacked discipline” at the World Cup, where three matches produced two wins and one loss.
“I don’t think it’s because of missing just one bowler, but because they’re not keeping it simple.”
Pakistan, who defeated the Netherlands and Sri Lanka before losing to India, will face Australia in Bengaluru on Friday.
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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