Wasim Akram Criticizes Shaheen Afridi’s Lack of Variability After Pakistan’s Early Exit from Champions Trophy
Pakistan’s disappointing early exit from the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy has sparked reactions from cricketing legends, with Wasim Akram taking aim at the team’s pace spearhead, Shaheen Afridi. Akram, in a recent interview, expressed his concerns about Afridi’s lack of variety in his bowling, which he believes has made the left-arm pacer predictable and easier to face for opposition batsmen.
Akram pointed out that Afridi has yet to consistently master the art of outswing bowling, a skill that has become essential in modern-day fast bowling. “He hasn’t learned how to bowl outswing on a consistent basis. He has only two types of deliveries—either a yorker or a straight ball. The world knows his game now, and the batters are ready to take him on,” Akram said. According to Akram, Afridi’s inability to generate movement away from the batter has left him vulnerable, with batters now more confident against him.
The former pacer’s criticism comes in the wake of Pakistan’s poor performance in the tournament, which saw them exit prematurely. Alongside Afridi, Pakistan’s pace trio of Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf also received flak, with former captain Mohammad Hafeez voicing his concerns about their underperformance. Hafeez, who has been vocal about the team’s struggles in big tournaments, pointed out that this trio—despite their obvious talent—has failed to perform consistently on the world stage.
“Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf have repeatedly underperformed in key tournaments, including the 2023 Asia Cup, the 50-over World Cup, and the T20 World Cup. And now, they’ve let Pakistan down again in the lead-up to the 2025 Champions Trophy,” Hafeez remarked. Hafeez suggested that it might be time for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider fresh faces in the bowling attack, citing players such as Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Akif Javed, and Mir Hamza, who are all waiting for their opportunities.
Hafeez added that these promising bowlers have the potential to step up, and it’s crucial for the team’s future to give them a chance to prove their worth. “Despite the talent of Afridi, Naseem, and Rauf, it’s clear that they haven’t been able to win major tournaments for Pakistan. It’s time to bring in the new crop of fast bowlers,” Hafeez concluded.
Pakistan’s early exit from the Champions Trophy 2025 was confirmed after their consecutive defeats to New Zealand and India. The defending champions, who clinched the title in 2017 under Sarfaraz Ahmed’s leadership, began their campaign with a loss to New Zealand. Despite this, their elimination was further sealed when they suffered another defeat to arch-rivals India. Virat Kohli’s splendid unbeaten century (100*) helped India chase down Pakistan’s total of 241 runs in Dubai, ensuring their victory.
This early exit highlights the need for introspection within Pakistan cricket, with critics calling for the introduction of new talent to replace underperforming players. The time has come for a fresh perspective on Pakistan’s fast bowling attack, as the team looks to rebuild and strengthen its core for future international challenges.
