Credit: Twitter
Ravi Shastri, the former ODI World Cup winner and head coach for India, has ripped apart the bowling attack of Pakistan in an explosive stint on Hindi commentary. The 61-year-old talked about how Shaheen Afridi is not Wasim Akram, one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, when India were headed towards an easy win against the Pakistan cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, October 14.
Also Watch: Babar Azam asks Virat Kohli for signed jersey after India beat Pakistan in CWC 2023
Team India got the better of their arch-rivals Pakistan in a one-sided contest by seven wickets, chasing down the target of 192 in just 31 overs. The key performers for the Men in Blue with the ball were Jasprit Bumrah, who was adjudicated as the player of the match, and Kuldeep Yadav, while Rohit Sharma stole the show with the bat, scoring a power-packed fifty, before Shreyas Iyer put the finishing touches on the run chase, bringing up a fifty of his own.
Ravi Shastri wasn’t mincing words for the bowling lineup of Pakistan during his stint in Hindi commentary on Star Sports live broadcast. He was quoted as saying, “Aisaa hai Shaheen Shah Afridi koi Wasim Akram nahi hai. Wo daalenge new ball ke saath, nikaal sakte hai wicket, ache bowler hai. Lekin itna bhi jyada chadhane ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Jab hai thik thak toh bolna chahiye thik thak. Chadha ke nahi bithana chahiye ki bahut zabardast attack hai, ye nahi hai. Ye maanana padega. Aur accept karo.”
Watch Ravi Shastri demolish the hype around Pakistan bowling attack here:
The statement translated to English, read, “The thing is, Shaheen Shah Afridi is no Wasim Akram. He is going to bowl with the new ball, can pick up a wicket, and is a good bowler. But you don’t need to create this much hype around (him). When (he) is an all-right (bowler), then (you) have to say that (he) is an all-right (bowler). (You) don’t need to hype the bowling attack as if it is very impressive, it is not. (You) have to accept that. And you should accept it.”
After making it 8-0 head-to-head record against Pakistan in the ODI World Cup history, India will be taking on another near neighbour Bangladesh on October 17, at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Meanwhile, the Men in Green will travel to Bengaluru to play against Australia on October 20, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.