Pakistan’s former pacer Mohammad Asif has offered a piece of advice for the fast bowling duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.
While speaking on a private TV channel, Asif stated that Shaheen was not bowling from the same release point he had used when he first joined the team.
“Shaheen is not bowling from the same release point he used when he first joined the team,” he said.
He emphasized that small mistakes could impede a bowler’s journey to becoming a leading wicket-taker.
“Small mistakes can hinder a bowler’s path to becoming a leading wicket-taker,” he added.
He highlighted Shaheen’s inability to bowl inswing deliveries to right-hand batters, suggesting that it can make it challenging for him to maintain a long career.
“If you cannot swing the ball back in, it can become difficult to sustain a long career,” he observed.
Mohammad Asif pointed out that many successful left-arm bowlers have had lethal inswing and enjoyed lengthy careers.
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“Shaheen once possessed this ability, but he seems to have lost it over time,” Asif said.
Regarding his ability to bowl inswinging deliveries, Asif said he should return to his basics.
“Shaheen should focus on his basics, and coaches should guide him in this process,” he stated.
The pacer also addressed Haris Rauf’s bowling form and the problems with his line and length.
“Haris’s problem is that he bowls short of length, which does not allow the ball to swing effectively,” he observed.
Asif recommended that Haris should change his line and length, explaining that despite bowling at very good speed, his current strategy does not challenge batters.
“Haris should change his line and length. His current line and length does not challenge batters.”
“No matter, if you bowl at 160 kph without swing, batters will take you apart, ” he concluded.
For the unversed, Pakistan’s pace bowling trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah have struggled recently.
The above-mentioned fast bowlers could not perform according to the expectations in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025, resulting in the Men in Green’s early exit from the tournament.
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