Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi believes star pacer Haris Rauf ought to have been a part of the Test squad in Australia moderately than the Big Bash League (BBL). Rauf withdrew from the sequence earlier than the crew was introduced, citing a want to regulate his workload and safeguard his physique. He performed 4 video games for the Melbourne Stars in Big Bash League throughout Pakistan’s ongoing Test sequence in opposition to Australia.

Given his velocity, the previous cricketer believes the bowler would have finished admirably within the circumstances. Afridi additional urged that Rauf would have loved himself on the pitches constructed by Australia in Perth and Melbourne.

“I think Haris [Rauf] should be part of this side instead rather than [the BBL]. In these conditions, the kind of pace he has, he would have performed well and enjoyed himself on the kinds of pitches Australia prepared in Perth and here,” Afridi stated whereas chatting with media on the MCG as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Even by Perth requirements, the bottom at Optus Stadium for the opening Test was energetic, with quick bowlers showing to amass extra assist because the match progressed.

Afridi additionally said that regardless of the decline in velocity, he didn’t consider Shaheen was injured, and that Pakistan wanted to put money into depth moderately than people.

“I’ve never got the impression that Shaheen has an injury. If you’re injured you can’t play as a fast bowler. He knows his responsibility and how important he is to the team. The fast bowlers, we are expecting a lot from them because they’ve done well in the past. Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen etc. have performed so well we expect them to perform in every match. Relentless consistency is challenging in cricket,” Afridi added.

“I have always said that unless our bench is strong we won’t be able to take the best decisions. The A team should be as strong as the main team, so if Shaheen or Babar or Rizwan aren’t strong, we shouldn’t have the excuses of players being unavailable, like we do with Naseem now. When our bench is strong, we will no longer have excuses,” stated the previous all-rounder.

Afridi additionally inspired Pakistan to maintain a combating likelihood within the upcoming Test, which the guests have to win by 317 runs. No crew has pursued a better mark within the fourth innings on the MCG in over a century, and Pakistan might need been chasing a significantly decrease rating if their slip catches had held.

“This Test match they should win. A good opportunity we missed to get them out easily for 150 runs. But it’s a chaseable score. I rate Babar Azam very highly and so does the world. He is the backbone of Pakistan’s batting lineup. The best batters lose form, but I have seen such consistent batters very rarely in Pakistan cricket,” he added.

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