In the current World Cup, the performance of Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been nothing short of extraordinary. Before the South Africa-Netherlands match, Bumrah had already secured the highest number of wickets, amassing an impressive 8 wickets at an astonishingly low average of just 11.52 runs.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s star bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been struggling in the tournament. Despite participating in three matches, he has only managed to secure four wickets, conceding a substantial 139 runs. Furthermore, his pace has noticeably diminished from previous standards, raising concerns about his effectiveness on the field.
Former Pakistan cricket captain Waqar Younis, now a prominent commentator in the ongoing World Cup in India, weighed in on Shaheen’s performance. Younis expressed uncertainty regarding the potential fitness issues that might be impacting Shaheen but pointed out a significant problem in his bowling strategy. According to Younis, Shaheen has been trying to vary the delivery excessively to secure wickets, and this approach has proven ineffective.
Younis pointed out that opposing batsmen have deciphered Shaheen’s approach. They anticipate his early attempts to bowl yorkers, leaving Shaheen at a disadvantage. Younis emphasized that Pakistan has been suffering the consequences of this predictability.
In light of Shaheen’s struggles, Younis proposed a solution: emulation of the exceptional Jasprit Bumrah. He explained that Bumrah consistently maintains a specific line and length in his deliveries, consistently aiming for the stumps. This approach enables Bumrah to capitalize on any mistake made by the batsman and results in wickets.
Younis firmly believes that Shaheen must adopt Bumrah’s approach, focusing on precision and consistency rather than attempting an abundance of variations. He asserted that normal, accurate bowling should be the foundation of Shaheen’s strategy to succeed in the World Cup.
Before the South Africa-Netherlands match, Bumrah’s remarkable performance included taking 2 wickets for just 19 runs in seven overs against Pakistan, earning him the title of the best player of the match. With these statistics in mind, Younis advised Shaheen to closely replicate Bumrah’s technique, underlining that this might be the key to enhancing his performance on the field.
As the World Cup unfolds, all eyes will be on Shaheen Afridi, who now faces the challenge of integrating Bumrah’s precision into his own game to help Pakistan secure their World Cup dreams.
