Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has said that fast bowler Shaheen Afridi should have used variation of pace sensibily in the T20 World Cup 2021 semifinal against Australia. On Thursday, Australia chased down the target of 177 runs against Pakistan to qualify for the final of the tournament.
Matthew Wade played a match-winning knock of 41 runs in just 17 balls to guide his team to final. Wade stood for an unbeaten 81 runs for the sixth wicket vs Pakistan.
Wade hit three sixes in Shaheen’s over to fire Australia in the final.
“I am not happy with Shaheen in one area. Okay so Hasan Ali dropped a catch but that does not mean you will bowl badly and get hit for three successive sixes,” Shahid Afridi said on Samaa TV channel.
“Shaheen has so much pace and he should have used it sensibly. Even if the catch was dropped. He should have used his head and tried to bowl outside off stump fast Yorkers with his pace. He is not that sort of bowler to be hit like that,” he added.
However, Shahid Afridi lauded Shaheen’s brilliant performance nin the tournament.
“I would say he was brilliant in the tournament and I have only seen either Wasim bhai (Akram) or perhaps Muhammad Amir bowl like this with the new ball,” said Shahid Afridi.
“He is giving good performances. I hope he learns from this cricket experience and prepares himself for the future,” he added.
On Sunday Australia and New Zealand will spearhead in the final to end their T20 World Cup trophy quest.
