Aakash Chopra has questioned whether Pakistan has the best seam attack in world cricket, as they have excelled on flat surfaces at home. Pakistan bowled out Bangladesh for 193 runs in their Asia Cup 2023 match in Lahore on Wednesday, September 6. Babar Azam and Co then started the Super Four stage with a win, chasing the target with seven wickets and 63 balls to spare.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s win in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra praised their seam-bowling department. He said:
“You are getting a voice from within that isn’t this team’s fast bowling different? I won’t say the entire bowling department but fast bowling is amazing. Do they have the best fast bowling department?”
The former Indian opener added:
“If we especially see the Lahore pitch, it is absolutely flat, the ball comes nicely onto the bat. There is a saying in English – calm waters don’t make skilled sailors. If you have to make someone a brilliant bowler, play them on flat pitches.”
Aakash Chopra highlighted that seamers become the best in the world when they thrive in conditions where they must give their maximum effort. He said that Pakistan’s fast bowlers push themselves, keep honing their skills, and find ways to remain relevant.
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“Shaheen Shah Afridi Is Fast Gaining A Reputation As The Best Bowler In The World In White-Ball Cricket” – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra said that Shaheen Shah Afridi is currently one of the best limited-overs bowlers in the world. he argued:
“Shaheen Shah Afridi is fast gaining a reputation whether he is the world’s best bowler in white-ball cricket or not. There is no doubt that among all bowlers who are playing cricket currently, no one bowls a more dangerous first over than this bowler because he pitches the ball right up, gets it to swing, and has bounce and courage as well.”
Indian commentator believes that Haris Rauf is not far behind the left-arm fast bowler. he explained:
“Haris Rauf is equally good. He has deceptive pace and bounce although he bowls from a little further back. His pace might increase by a yard or two if he bowls from slightly further up but his ball travels. You feel it will come slow but it goes and hits near the bat’s handle.”
Chopra said Naseem Shah’s straight seam position makes him a potent threat. He elaborated:
“Naseem Shah is brilliant. Naseem’s story is that his hand is so straight, it is absolutely zero seam, which means the seam is absolutely straight. If the seam is slightly left or right, it aids the swing, but if the ball goes with an absolutely straight seam, just like it does for Mohammad Shami, it swings less and there are more cutters, but he also bowls close to 150 kph.”
However, Chopra highlighted that Faheem Ashraf is not in the same league as the other three fast bowlers. He said that Shadab Khan, though he took four wickets against Nepal, has not been at his best recently.
