‘He is a diamond in the rough’ – Ian Bishop heaps massive praises on Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen Afridi has enjoyed a sensational run in his brief but impressive international career so far and many are backing him to become the next big thing in Pakistan cricket. The left-arm pacer can set the speed gun on fire and his ability to swing the ball both ways makes him even more lethal. Nailing yorkers and bouncers aren’t beyond his reach either.

Afridi’s brilliance earned him success across all three formats. The fast bowler is currently plying his trade in the ongoing first Test match between West Indies and Pakistan at the Sabina Park in Jamaica. He made the ball talk in the second innings of the game and took wickets off consecutive deliveries.

Jermaine Blackwood and Kyle Mayers were Afridi’s two victims as the home team was reduced to 100/5. Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop was mighty pleased by Afridi’s efforts as he heaped praises on the 21-year-old.

Ian Bishop has high expectations from Shaheen Afridi

“Shaheen bowled a superb little spell. The guy is 21 years old. He is a diamond in the rough. When I was 21 years old, I knew nothing about Test cricket, even though I was playing the game. Sometimes you can see something in someone even though at the moment they are not the great player you want them to be,” Bishop said as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.

Speaking of the Jamaica Test match, Pakistan, after being put on to bat first, were skittled out for just 217 runs. While Fawad Alam (56) scored the most for the visitors, Faheem Ashraf made 44 runs. For West Indies, pace duo Jayden Seales and Jason Holder took three wickets apiece.

In reply, the home team got off to a terrible start with opener Kieran Powell and one-down batter Nkrumah Bonner bagging a duck. The likes of Roston Chase and Jermaine Blackwood also couldn’t do much as West Indies lost their five wickets inside 100 runs. However, skipper Kraigg Brathwaite joined forces with Jason Holder and the duo rebuilt West Indies’ innings.

While Brathwaite fell three runs short of his hundred, his efforts helped West Indies crossed the 250-run mark. At stumps on Day 2, the hosts were 251/8, leading by 34 runs. The game, however, is still perfectly poised and it would be interesting to see how it pans out.