Asia Cup 2022: It’s a huge blow to Pakistan’s chances – Aakash Chopra on Shaheen Afridi missing tournament

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes it is a huge blow to Pakistan’s chances in the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 after their gun fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi was ruled out with a knee injury. Afridi is Pakistan’s lead pacer and had breathed down the neck of the Indian batters in the two team’s previous meeting at the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Afridi had dismissed Indian openers – Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul – with inswinging deliveries and the Men in Blue had found themselves under the cosh at 6-2. The left-arm pacer had also got the big wicket of former Indian captain Virat Kohli. The ace pacer had returned with figures of 3-31 in his quota of four overs and was awarded the Player of the Match.

The 22-year-old lanky pacer has scalped 47 wickets in 40 T20I matches at an economy rate of 7.76.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “I think it’s a huge blow to Pakistan’s chances. I said the same thing about Bumrah as well. Jasprit Bumrah is not there, and Harshal Patel is also not there, apart from him. So it was a twin blow for us.”

On the other hand, India will also miss the services of their lead pacer as Jasprit Bumrah is ruled out with a back injury. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead the pace attack while Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan will provide him support.

“When I see Arshdeep, Avesh Khan, and Bhuvneshwar – the bowling attack looks a little weak. It is a fact, I am not hiding from it. But Pakistan also cannot hide from the fact. It is not that they do not have the bowling. They have a lot of options. Shadab Khan is batting well, but he is not getting those many wickets as a bowler.”

Meanwhile, the renowned commentator believes Naseem Shah has the pace under his belt but he can be a bit expensive. Shah has an economy rate of 8.27 in the T20 format.

“Shahnawaz Dahani can be very expensive but has the ability to pick up wickets. Naseem Shah made his ODI debut just now and gave a ‘Man of the Match’ performance. He has the pace but is expensive at times.”

Chopra feels Haris Rauf is a good bowler but he is not in the same league as Shaheen Shah Afridi.

“We have seen in the PSL that he (Shah) took four or five wickets in one game, but after that, he got hit in the next few matches. He is mercurial in nature, but accuracy is a problem. Haris Rauf is very good, no doubt, but he is not Shaheen Shah Afridi.”

India and Pakistan will take on each other in the Asia Cup on 28th August in Dubai.