Shaheen Shah Afridi cannot be replaced by any of the existing bowlers, according to Pakistani wicketkeeper Mohammed Rizwan.
Mohammad Rizwan, the wicketkeeper for Pakistan, has come clean and admitted that no bowler in the current set of bowlers can take Shaheen Shah Afridi’s place.
'The form that he has been in from the past 2 years, no bowler can replace Shaheen Shah Afridi but this #AsiaCup2022 is an opportunity to give Pakistan another Shaheen Shah' – Mohammad Rizwanpic.twitter.com/e4Z3nZOCyJ
— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) September 2, 2022
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The Asia Cup may prove to be a great chance for the Pakistani national squad to find another bowler who fits the same template, according to Rizwan.
“I’ve talked to the bowlers before. I will be very honest here, no bowler from this group can replace Shaheen. This is my honest answer. The way he (Shaheen) has performed in the past 1-2 years, no bowler can come into the side and fill his shoes. But, we can get another Shaheen and this is an opportunity for our other fast bowlers. The way Naseem and Dahani have performed.. and Haris is already a part of the side, so we are hopeful,” Rizwan said in a post-match press conference.
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Shaheen Shah Afridi, the team’s star pacer, has been absent while they have played. Due to a knee injury he acquired during the tour to Sri Lanka, the left-arm bowler was forced to withdraw from the competition. To speed up his rehabilitation, the 22-year-old was moved to London.
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Pakistan had thus far had a respectable run in the Asia Cup 2022. After losing to India in their opening match, they utterly destroyed Hong Kong in their subsequent group match. They will face India on Sunday when both teams square off in the Super Four stage because they have advanced to that stage. Shaheen’s services will be missed by the team, but Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf will be relied upon to deliver.