We all saw Shaheen Shah Afridi burst onto the scene. The raw speed, toe-crushing yorkers, nagging line & length. One couldn’t help but get excited. It felt like Pakistan had found their next big thing, a genuine match-winner.
But unfortunately, off late, all the promise & hope seems to be lost. Shaheen has become super predictable. First couple of overs, he runs in fast, and gives it his all. But after that initial burst? It’s like the batteries run out. Batters are figuring him out, playing him safely, and the wickets have just stopped coming.
It’s not just about a dip in form. It seems as if he’s struggling to adapt. Cricket pitches aren’t the same everywhere. Some bounce, some turn, and some are just slow and sticky. A top-class bowler knows how to use various conditions to his advantage. Shaheen, on the contrary, seems to have no clue! If the Yorkers aren’t working, he doesn’t have a backup plan.
No doubt, the talent is there. But talent alone won’t cut it. You need to be a thinking bowler, a smart operator, and someone who can outsmart batters consistently, to be successful at the international level.
Shaheen needs to expand his toolkit. He needs to learn to bowl those crafty slower balls, to use the seam, to get that ball swinging even when the pitch isn’t helping. He needs to spend time in the first class circuit, hours in the nets, and learning new things, in order to become a more complete bowler.
Shaheen has been in the cricket arena for far too long not to understand that every pitch is different and he needs to have a unique plan for every strip rather than trying the same method over all surfaces. Also the fact that getting into the batter’s mind is what pundits of the game consider a hallmark of a top-class bowler. Shaheen needs to learn a trick or two about this aspect as well.
Shaheen desperately needs to find that fire again. The passion & zeal that made him a proper threat for the opposing sides during the early part of his career. Passion, combined with hard work & meticulous planning can do him a world of good.
As I said before, the potential is undoubtedly there. But potential alone can’t bring results. Hence, it’s time for him to step up, work on his shortcomings and show the world he’s more than just a one-trick-pony. The fans are desperately hoping to see Shaheen get his mojo back.
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