Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes Shaheen Shah Afridi will not be a major threat to India but it will be Haris Rauf. Chopra feels Afridi is getting close to his best but he is not there yet. The lanky paceman played a warm-up match against Afghanistan on Wednesday, in which he scalped two wickets and conceded 29 runs in his quota of four overs.
Afridi is returning to action after recovering from a knee injury and he is yet to hit the top gear in his bowling.
“But I do feel the bowler to be wary of on Sunday isn’t Shaheen. It’s Haris Rauf. Afridi is getting close to his best but isn’t there yet…and unlikely to be by the 23rd either. Rauf will bowl the tougher overs and has the potential to make a difference,” explained Chopra in his post on Twitter.
On the other hand, Haris Rauf will bowl the death overs for Pakistan and he also has the experience of playing in the Big Bash League in Australia.
Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi was at his lethal best in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup against India. The lanky paceman had scalped three wickets and had also dismissed Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul with fine inswinging deliveries in the very first over he had bowled.
Afridi also bowled a scorching yorker to Rahmanullah Gurbaz and the right-hander was seen withering in pain after being struck on his toe.
“Full…swinging…fast. Shaheen Afridi is getting close to his best. Gurbaz’s toe agrees,” wrote Chopra on Twitter while praising Pakistan’s pack leader.
Afridi is going to hold the key for Pakistan and he will look to deliver the goods for his team. However, the youngster doesn’t have a lot of game time under his belt, which could be an issue for him.
India and Pakistan will take on each other in the T20 World Cup at the iconic MCG on 23rd October.
