New Pakistan T20I captain Shaheen Afridi has conceded that the performance of the pacers, including himself, was "disheartening". He blamed the speed guns during the Australia Test series for showing his and other Pakistan pacers’ speeds at around 130-132 kph.
Pakistan was whitewashed 3-0 in the Test series, their 7th straight whitewash down under and 17th consecutive Test defeat to Australia. Pakistan bowlers struggled on the pace-friendly tracks while their Australian counterparts -- Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood -- put on a show.
Even legendary pacer Waqar Younis tore into Shaheen Afridi during the Australia Tests, saying he used to bowl at 145 to 150 kph speeds on odd days. But during the Test series, the left-arm pacer dropped to 130 to 132 kph.
Speaking about the same ahead of the first T20I against New Zealand, Shaheen Afridi, who will captain Pakistan for the first time, revealed that the speed gun shockingly showed his pace around 132-133 kmph while he usually bowls 140+kmph.
“To be honest pehle toh hum khud agar bowling kar rahe the, na toh board to dekh rahe the ki yaar, ye sach me hum yahi hain? Kyunki, pata hi nahi chal raha tha, jo body suru se bowling kar rahi hai aur wo itna jor laga ke 132-33 pe aati hai to hum khud hi hairan hai ki yaar kya pehle se hi kuch decide hua hai ki is pace se zyada nahi hoga?
(To be honest, first of all, when we were bowling and looking at the board (side screen), we were surprised whether we were really bowling at that pace because our bodies are adapted to bowl faster. We couldn’t find how we were not able to bowl over 132-33kmph. We were surprised if it was pre-decided that the speed gun wouldn’t show more than that)," Shaheen said on the eve of the first T20I against New Zealand.
Shaheen hinted at some big changes for the series opener in Auckland's Eden Park.
"Some young players are making a comeback like Azam Khan, Aamer Jamal, and Sahibzada Farhan and there are some new players like Haseebullah and Abbas Afridi. We are hoping to give them a chance in these five T20Is and upcoming T20I matches ahead of the World Cup," he added.
Afridi also pointed out the need to assess different combinations in the 17 matches leading up to the T20 World Cup.
"Babar and Rizwan will always be the best opening pair for Pakistan. I think we have 17 matches before the World Cup, and we should try different combinations and try to figure out which player fits in which position and we will try to play them [in that position]. There might be some changes, or maybe not. But the effort will be to have the team combination ready before the England tour. In the four T20s against England before the T20 World Cup, we should know our best playing XI," he further stated.
Pakistan will begin the five-match T20I series against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, January 12.
(Sportskeeda inputs)
