‘There’s no need to fear Jofra Archer’- Shoaib Akhtar unimpressed after Younis Khan praises England speedster

Shoaib Akhtar, the former Pakistan fast bowler, said that Younis Khan, another retired Pakistan cricketer, wasn’t right in praising England seamer Jofra Archer. Khan, who was recently appointed as Pakistan’s batting coach, said that the Barbados-born Archer has a good temperament, especially after he helped the Three Lions win the World Cup with the Super Over at the Lord’s.

Archer was arguably the Brits’ star bowler in the mega event after making his debut in May 2019. Khan, the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in Test cricket, said that Archer’s high-arm action helps him in generating seam and swing.

“Archer has strong nerves which he proved while bowling a crucial super over in the World Cup final. He has bite in his bowling and his high arm action is very good and gives him nip in his bowling,” Younis was quoted as saying.

He shouldn’t give those statements: Shoaib Akhtar

Akhtar wasn’t happy though and reckons that Pakistan shouldn’t fear the young speed-gun. “Younis Khan made a statement that we will have to be wary of Jofra Archer. He [Archer] is very intimidating and hits you [while bowling]. Younis Khan gives statements. He is a good man though,” Shoaib was quoted as saying in a YouTube video on Tuesday, June 30.

“There is no need to fear Jofra Archer. Younis Khan said that they will have to play a bit defensively. I don’t know if he has said this or not. He [Younis] should not be giving these statements,” the Rawalpindi Express added.

Pakistan is currently in England for a T20I and Test series. They are currently in Worcestershire where they are serving a 14-day quarantine period. Saeed Ajmal, the veteran spinner, said that he would be surprised if Pakistan manage to win even one match on the tour.

As far as Archer is concerned, he came into Test cricket after James Anderson was ruled out after the opening Test of last year’s Ashes. In his very Test at the Lord’s, Archer smashed Steve Smith on the neck and got the batsman concussed. Archer has also been an integral member of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).