Pakistan’s newly appointed T20I captain, Shaheen Afridi, has expressed surprise and concern over the recorded speeds during the recent Test series against Australia. The three-match Test series proved challenging for Pakistan, resulting in a clean sweep by the Australian team. Injuries, including the absence of key players like Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah, impacted Pakistan’s preferred bowling lineup. Afridi, who was rested for the third Test in Sydney to manage his workload, now finds himself reflecting on the recorded bowling speeds and contemplating the implications for his role as a fast bowler.

• Speed Measurements Raise Eyebrows:
  • Pakistan’s bowlers, including Shaheen Afridi, were taken aback by the speed measurements displayed during the Test series against Australia.
  • Afridi shared his surprise, stating that while bowling, the team constantly checked the big screen to verify the recorded speeds, which consistently ranged around 132-133 kph.
  • The confusion led Afridi to question whether there was a predetermined limit set by broadcasters for the speed gun, impacting the perceived performance of the bowlers.
• Fitness Concerns and Waqar Younis’s Advice:
  • Midway through the series, concerns arose regarding Afridi’s fitness as the speed guns indicated a decline in pace for him and other Pakistani seamers, suggesting speeds in the early to mid-130s.
  • Bowling coach Waqar Younis suggested that Afridi might need to take a break from the game to address any fitness issues. He cautioned that persisting without addressing the concerns could lead Afridi to transition into a medium pacer.
  • Younis emphasized the need for Afridi to regain his previous pace, mentioning the significant drop from his earlier speeds of 145-150 kph.
• Series Performance and Emerging Talents:
  • Despite the challenges faced by the Pakistani team in Australia, Shaheen Afridi concluded the series with eight wickets from two matches, maintaining an average of 41.62.
  • Aamer Jamal, making his debut in the series, emerged as Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker, securing 18 wickets from three games at an impressive average of 20.44.
  • The performances of Afridi and Jamal highlight the potential for positive developments in Pakistan’s bowling lineup, provided concerns over Afridi’s pace are addressed.

As Pakistan regroups for a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, the concerns raised by Shaheen Afridi’s slower recorded speeds present both a challenge and an opportunity. The team, led by Afridi as the newly appointed T20I captain, must address fitness and performance issues to ensure a more competitive showing. The emergence of Aamer Jamal as a wicket-taking asset adds a positive dimension to Pakistan’s bowling unit. Afridi’s determination to understand and rectify the speed discrepancy sets the tone for the team’s commitment to overcoming challenges and delivering a strong performance in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, commencing on January 12 in Auckland.