http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 can still be dangerous with the bat, says Azhar Mahmood – Cricket News Update
Discarded Pakistani all-rounder, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Ali-Khan-c89356 Afridi can still be extremely dangerous with the bat if he shows a little more application.
Afridi, 32, burst into the international scene in 1996, with history’s fastest One Day International ton, against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752. The hard-hitting all-rounder has been a permanent member of Pakistan’s limited-over squad since then; however, his roles
have kept changing.
Over the last seven years, Boom Boom is playing as a specialist bowler in the team and has been a genuine match-winner with his leg-spin. But because of his immense natural talent, the cricketer from Karachi is always expected to contribute with the bat,
especially in the latter stages of an innings.
In 2012, Afridi has not been in great touch, scoring just one half-century in ODIs and T20 Internationals each. More than the lack of form, the Pathan has been criticised for his poor shot-selection and rush of blood, which often leaves http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in trouble.
The former Pakistan captain’s poor temperament was on display during the Green Shirts’ first warm-up match of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 2012 in Colombo, where he attempted a big shot on just his second ball, only to be caught at the long-off boundary.
While talking to Pakpassion, the out of favour all-rounder advised Boom Boom to take his time before going after the bowlers. Mahmood thinks that Afridi can still turn out to be a match-winner with the bat.
"Afridi has not been performing well as a batsman recently. The other day, he blocked the first ball and then tried to hit a six the very next ball which did not work," said Mahmood. "http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-c89347 needs to give himself a chance by playing for a longer time. We
all know how dangerous a player he is but he needs to allow himself more time at the crease."
The cricketer from Rawalpindi is of the opinion that T20 cricket is about planning an innings, instead of playing big shots all the time.
"People usually think that in T20 cricket, you have 120 balls to play and you have to do something spectacular from ball one but the reality is different," he added.
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