Shaheen Shah Afridi admits Pakistan’s fast-bowlers are not as quick as they once were, but argues the issue is natural wear and tear rather than a sudden crisis. Speaking in Rawalpindi on the eve of the first ODI against Australia, the left-armer – now captain in the format – outlined how coaches and the National Cricket Academy (NCA) are trying to manage workloads while still fielding a competitive attack.
‘First the headline issue, then the context’ is how Afridi framed things. “You can put more pace in the ball when your body has had rest, but our bodies remain always at Pakistan’s disposal,” he reminded reporters. Pakistan’s seamers have been averaging around the low 130 kph mark, compared with Australia’s and, more recently, Bangladesh’s high-130s to mid-140s. The disparity was highlighted during the 0-2 Test defeat in Bangladesh, where Nahid Rana regularly clocked the high 140s on his way to 11 wickets.
Afridi will not hear comparisons taken too far. “First of all, Bangladesh fast bowler [Nahid] Rana must have played seven-eight matches,” he noted. “It is a norm that machines deteriorate with time. We are trying to recharge ourselves.” Those remarks, equal parts blunt and philosophical, captured the mood: Pakistan know the tradition of raw pace, yet they also know the human body is not a factory component.
Speed and its decline
Afridi himself is the obvious case study. Before the knee injury in Galle two summers ago he had 99 Test wickets at 24.86 and bowled comfortably above 140 kph. Since returning, 27 wickets have cost more than 40 apiece and he seldom hits that mark. Privately the support staff accept he may never be that quick again, so the emphasis has shifted to accuracy, swing and, crucially, depth. That is where the NCA’s new plan comes in: short, high-intensity spells in controlled environments, rather than endless overs in domestic cricket.
Bowling coach Umar Gul, politely declining to reveal exact targets, said the aim is to “get every bowler back to his personal peak, not somebody else’s number”. In practice that means different schedules. Haris Rauf, recovering from a side strain, will not play red-ball cricket this year. Naseem Shah, fit again, is pencilled in for limited minutes across formats. “Rotation is not a buzzword – it is survival,” Gul added.
Rizwan left out, eyes on 2027
Selection for this series tells a similar story. Three uncapped players – Rohail Nazir, Arafat Minhas and Ahmed Danyal – have been drafted in, while Mohammad Rizwan, second-highest run-scorer for Pakistan in the current ODI cycle, has been rested. The decision raised eyebrows; Rizwan averages 42.42 since the last World Cup and is widely regarded as the side’s heartbeat. Afridi insists there is logic rather than drama.
He said he phoned the wicketkeeper-batter as soon as squads were announced. “Rizwan is an important part of our plans,” Afridi explained. “But if we do not test the bench now, when will we? The 2027 World Cup looks far away, yet it will arrive quickly.” Insiders confirm Rizwan asked for clarity on his role and was told he remains first choice for the Champions Trophy next year, fitness permitting.
Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq supports the move, though with caveats. “Depth only develops by playing internationals, not sitting in dug-outs,” he told local television. “But equally, rhythm is important. Rizwan must not be sidelined for too long.”
Analysing the numbers
Pakistan’s strike rate with the ball in Tests has fallen from 56 (2019-22) to 73 (since 2023). Average speed readings mirror that drop. Fitness consultant Maqbool Ahmed says repeated travel cycles are partly to blame. Players now log double the air miles compared with the previous FTP, and recovery windows have shrunk. “The body treats long-haul flights like an extra training session, without the benefit,” he said.
Australia, meanwhile, arrive with their usual mix of hostility and method. Pat Cummins is rested, but Lance Morris and Spencer Johnson both break 150 kph. Afridi shrugs off the contrast. “We cannot copy-paste another team’s model,” he argued. “What we can do is make the most of our resources, and you will see that starting tomorrow.”
Empathy for the ache
Not everything is doom-and-gloom. Hasan Ali’s remodelled run-up has added two kph on average, while teenage left-armer Mohammad Zeeshan is touching 145 in the nets. Batting coach Mohammad Yousuf also reckons the slightly reduced pace could help reverse-swing resurface at home, where abrasive surfaces do the work once the ball gets older.
Yet the underlying theme remains workload. Afridi closed his presser on that point: “All the bowlers are thinking about how they can increase their speeds. Some of our bowlers are playing Tests and the others are playing ODIs so they stay fresh. The coaches and the NCA are working [on how to manage their loads].” It sounded less like a promise and more like a realistic status report – and maybe that is progress in itself.
