Shahid Afridi rues lack of power-hitters in Pakistan cricket

Shahid Afridi spent the majority of his international career with a Pakistan team that was one of the best in the world. He shared the dressing room with the likes of Wasim Akram, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq and other world-class players. Afridi himself was one of the pillars of the Pakistan team.

However, their current state is really different. Gone are those days when Pakistan cricket was brimming with world-class talents and Afridi’s comment on the same pretty much proves it. The former captain has lamented the lack of power-hitters in the current set-up. Sri Lanka recently whitewashed Pakistan in the three-match T20I series in front of their home crowd.

The entire team managed to hit just a couple of sixes in the series, prompting Shahid Afridi to point fingers towards lack of explosive players in the side. He said that the lack of power-hitting options is a big concern and the management should address it.

“Pakistan missed the element of power-hitting in the series against Sri Lanka,” Afridi was quoted as saying in a video by Business Recorder. “We managed to hit only two sixes and we are not seeing the expected talent when it comes to hitting.”

“Power hitters have always played a very important role in Pakistan cricket, for example Abdul Razzaq was a fine hitter. Meanwhile, players such as Gayle, Pollard, Dhoni are renowned power hitters. Why we are not getting such players is a concern and it should be addressed,” he added.

An eye-opener

Meanwhile, the newly-appointed Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said that the loss to Sri Lanka was an eye-opener for the team. Misbah has faced criticism since becoming the first man in Pakistan cricket to hold two top posts of head coach as well as chief selector. He also used the opportunity to say that not all is well with the system in Pakistan cricket.

“This series has been an eye-opener for us and everyone else. These same players have been around for a while now. More or less the same team which made us number one and has been playing together for around three to four years now,” Misbah said.

“The result of series is also an eye-opener for our system as well. If we can lose to a side without its main players how did we think we were number one,” he added.

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