Shaheen Afridi's Bowling Needs Improvement, Says Ramiz Raja

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has expressed concerns over Shaheen Shah Afridi's bowling, particularly when the ball doesn't swing. In the second T20I against England at Edgbaston, Pakistan suffered a 23-run defeat, with Afridi's bowling coming under scrutiny.

Despite taking three wickets in his four-over spell, Afridi struggled to make an impact in the early stages of the game. Raja believes that the pacer needs to develop more variations to become more effective in the T20 format.

"Shaheen Shah Afridi's bowling... if the ball isn't swinging and he bowls at full length, then he gets bashed," Raja said on his YouTube channel. "He needs to develop length ball and change of pace especially when he is not getting much from the pitch."

With the pitch offering little swing, Afridi found it difficult to trouble England's opening pair in the powerplay. He picked up most of his wickets in the middle and death overs when England were looking to accelerate their innings.

Afridi's struggles were evident in his two overs of the powerplay, where he conceded 21 runs. England's Jos Buttler then took charge with an 84-run blitz off 51 deliveries, helping England post a competitive total of 183/7.

In reply, Pakistan's batters struggled to build partnerships and lost wickets while attempting to clear the boundary rope. England's bowlers executed their plans effectively to secure a 23-run victory.

Raja's concerns highlight the need for Afridi to adapt his bowling to different conditions and situations. As one of Pakistan's key bowlers, he will be crucial to their success in upcoming matches and tournaments.

Tags: #ShaheenAfridi, #PakistanCricket, #T20Cricket, #RamizRaja, #BowlingVariations