Mirpur: Former Pakistan cricketer and popular commentator Ramis Raja criticized left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.
During the commentary, Raja made a scathing assessment of Pakistan’s pace attack and Shaheen Afridi’s current form in comparison to emerging pace bowlers from other sides.
He noted that many modern bowlers, often shaped by shorter formats, often struggle in Tests due to the need for longer spells compared to the four-over bursts in T20 cricket, which reveal fitness levels at a much higher level.
“We don’t have fast bowlers like Nahid Rana; we have medium pacers. So far Shaheen Afridi has been seen as a medium pacer,” Raja said.
The left-arm quick seemed to struggle with rhythm and fitness, running at low speeds in the 125-134 km/h range during his spells.
Meanwhile, Najmul Hossain Sandhu’s century and Mominul Haq’s half-century frustrated Pakistan as Bangladesh posted 301-4 in 85 overs at the end of the first day of the first Test.
Batting, Bangladesh lost 31-2 with Mahmud Hasan Joy to Shaheen Afridi for 8 and Shadman Islam for 13 to Hasan Ali.
Mominul and Shando rebuilt the innings with 50 to take Bangladesh to 101-2 at the lunch break. Shando reached his sixth Test fifty, turning it into a fluent 101 off 130 balls, hitting 12 fours and 2 sixes, sharing a 170-run partnership with Mominul.
Mominul scored his 26th Test fifty and scored 91 off 200 balls. The pair added 75 more runs and Noman Ali dismissed Mominul to break the stand.
Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 48 off 104 balls, Liton Das combined with 8 to take Bangladesh past 300.
Pakistan bowlers Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali and Noman Ali took one wicket each as the visitors conceded 31 extras, including 16 fours, seven leg-byes and eight no-balls.