India’s veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reckons Shaheen Shah Afridi might have been sold for a whopping amount of INR 14-15 crores had he been part of the IPL auction. Ashwin lavished praise on the lanky fast bowler and feels he sets up the game beautifully for his team.
The off-spinner recalled the previous meeting between India and Pakistan when Afridi’s opening spell blew away India’s top order. Afridi had dismissed Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul and India had found themselves on the mat. Furthermore, Ashwin added that Afridi can also bowl accurately at the death.
Meanwhile, Pakistan players are not allowed to take part in the IPL due to political tension between the two countries. The early seasons of the IPL had seen players like Shoaib Akhtar, Kamran Akmal, and Sohail Tanvir take part in the league.
Ravichandran Ashwin stated on his YouTube Channel, “Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf bowled well the last time we faced Pakistan, but it was Shaheen Afridi’s opening burst that broke the game at the top. A major setback for them ahead of this game is Afridi’s injury.
“I have thought a lot about how crazy it would have been if Shaheen Afridi had been there in an IPL auction. A tall left-arm seamer who sets the game with the new ball and also unleashes yorkers at the death. He might have gone for 14-15 crore had he been there at the IPL auction.”
However, Shaheen Shah Afridi has been ruled out of the Asia Cup 2022 due to a knee injury.
On the other hand, Ravichandran Ashwin reckons Imad Wasim is another notable absentee from Pakistan’s squad for the Asia Cup.
“Imad Wasim is a notable exclusion from Pakistan’s squad. He has been a regular feature for them in the T20 format. But he is not there this time. Instead, they have gone for Mohammad Nawaz, who is very much like Ravindra Jadeja.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s pacer battery is one of the best in the world. All the pacers have the skills to bowl above 140 kmph.
“All Pakistani fast bowlers clock 140-145 kph consistently. I don’t think any team in world cricket has such a rich backup of fast bowlers. Pakistan have always been a side with so much raw talent on display.”
