Gary Kirsten, the head coach of Pakistan white-ball, is concerned about Shaheen Shah Afridi‘s ability to control his workload. In his 19.5 overs of bowling in the domestic Champions Cup, the pacer has taken five wickets at an average of 24. Kirsten pointed out that because Shaheen and Naseem Shah had played a lot of games over the past 18 months, their workload should be controlled.
Owing to a shoulder ailment, Naseem was out for a while, but Shaheen has been playing nonstop. According to Gary Kirsten, he discovered a statistic that is “alarming” since it indicates that Afridi has bowled three times as many as any pacer in the previous 18 months.
“There is constant pressure on fast bowlers to perform well and win games. While providing commentary during the Champions Cup match, Kirsten stated, “When we look at our key resources, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah have carried the bulk of the workload for Pakistan across all formats.”
Gary Kirsten, the head coach of Pakistan white-ball, is concerned about Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ability to control his workload
Shaheen has bowled three times as many overs than any other fast bowler in the globe over the past 18 months, according to a statistic I saw the other day. That’s concerning; you’ll eventually have to wear him out,” he continued.
Mitchell Starc, an Australian bowler, has bowled the most overs throughout that time, nevertheless. Since March 1, 2023, Shaheen has bowled 455.1 overs, while Starc has bowled 531.3 overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi best 18 months to date
Pakistan’s preferred bowler in recent years has been Shaheen, but the squad hasn’t won any ICC titles. Furthermore, Shaheen’s recent form is a little alarming, despite the fact that he has been Pakistan’s top wicket-taker over the past 18 months.
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In the most recent second Test matchup against Bangladesh, the pacer was removed from the starting lineup. Although his spot in the starting XI is not assured, he is anticipated to make a comeback in the series against England next month.