Former opener Aakash Chopra has sounded a Shaheen Afridi warning for the Indian team ahead of their Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s encounter on Sunday. The two teams will clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The previous encounter between the two sides in Pallekele ended in a no-result as heavy rain meant that Pakistan couldn’t begin their chase of India’s 266 runs. Shaheen Afridi had starred in that match as well, picking 4/35 removing both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early on.
Aakash Chopra heaped praise on Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, saying no one bowls a better first over than him. Afridi has picked seven wickets in the 2023 Asia Cup group stage.
“Shaheen Shah Afridi is fast gaining a reputation whether he is the world's best bowler in white-ball cricket or not. There is no doubt that among all bowlers who are playing cricket currently, no one bowls a more dangerous first over than this bowler because he pitches the ball right up, gets it to swing, and has bounce and courage as well,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel.
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Furthermore, Chopra also praised Haris Rauf, who picked three wickets against India and then 4/19 against Bangladesh in the first Super 4s encounter recently.
“Haris Rauf is equally good. He has deceptive pace and bounce although he bowls from a little further back. His pace might increase by a yard or two if he bowls from slightly further up but his ball travels. You feel it will come slow but it goes and hits near the bat's handle,” Chopra added.
Chopra called Naseem Shah brilliant as well, insisting that he gets a lot of swing because of his straight-arm action.
“Naseem Shah is brilliant. Naseem's story is that his hand is so straight, that it is absolutely zero seam, which means the seam is straight. If the seam is slightly left or right, it aids the swing, but if the ball goes with an straight seam, just like it does for Mohammad Shami, it swings less and there are more cutters, but he also bowls close to 150 kph,” said Chopra.
The ACC also announced a reserve day for the India v Pakistan Super 4s encounter in case rain plays spoilsport.
