Indian commentator and former wicketkeeper, Dinesh Karthik, recently voiced his admiration for Pakistan's formidable pace attack, elevating their skills above their Indian counterparts. Speaking exclusively to Cricbuzz, Karthik extolled the trio of Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, branding them as a lethal force on Sri Lankan pitches.
“Shaheen, Haris Rauf, and Naseem can bowl consistently above 90 miles per hour, and each possesses a unique set of skills,” Karthik remarked.
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“Shaheen Shah, with his left-arm delivery, adds an enticing angle and swing that brings the ball back in. Naseem Shah, on the other hand, can swing the ball both ways, while Haris Rauf's late skid and menacing bouncer make him a standout bowler in the death overs.”
When asked about his preference for facing these formidable bowlers, Karthik confessed that he found the Indian pacers, including Mohammad Siraj, Mohammad Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah, comparatively more comfortable to confront. The bounce generated by the Pakistani trio off the pitch was a significant factor in his assessment.
Pakistan pace attack far more potent: Dinesh Karthik
“For me, they are a far more potent attack on flat wickets. If there is something in the pitch, then both attacks become very equal,” Karthik opined.
He further added, “I have a better chance of probably playing Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami only because the bounce they’ll get will be slightly lesser than what these three other bowlers can do from Pakistan.”
4️⃣-3️⃣5️⃣ and 2️⃣ maiden overs in a splendid spell 🦅
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 2, 2023
🗣️ @iShaheenAfridi reflects on how he dismissed the top-order batters and the support he received from fellow pacers #PAKvIND | #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/dtvUB2S7u7
In the recent Asia Cup 2023 match, the Pakistani pace trio wreaked havoc, accounting for all ten wickets. However, the game was marred by rain, resulting in both teams sharing a point each. With this, Pakistan secured their place in the next stage of the tournament with a total of three points.
Shaheen Afridi was the standout performer for Pakistan, claiming the key wickets of Indian captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja. His early wickets, including those of Rohit and Virat within the first six overs, applied significant pressure on the Indian side.
Despite a rocky start where India lost four wickets for just 66 runs, a spirited effort by Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya enabled them to post a competitive score.
