Shaheen and Haris Power Pakistan’s Pace Plan for Asia Cup Final
The never-ending nature of their pace attack was demonstrated by Pakistan in their 11-run win in the virtual semi-final of the Asia Cup 2025 over Bangladesh. The Powerplay specialist Shaheen Afridi, once again demonstrated why he is one of the most feared new-ball bowlers in the world.
His first salvo of 3-0-11-2 rescued Pakistan following a modest batting performance and brought to the fore the amazing record of 51 wickets in the first six overs, the second only to Tim Southee among Full Member countries. Afridi contributed his share at the bat too, and dealt a vital 19 out of 13 to salvage the wavering 55-5 to a respectable 135.
Coming back and playing his last spell Shaheen secured the victory with a 4-0-17-3 haul, becoming the record 10th winner of the Player of the Month award in men’s T20Is: four more than any other fast bowler, and four more than India’s Jasprit Bumrah.
His hitting and swinging forward with the ball, as well as his hitting under pressure, are the best weapons Pakistan has before the big test with India on Sunday.
Haris Rauf, a partner to Afridi, quelled the critics who questioned his Powerplay qualifications. Raw in his style with an average speed of around 90 mph, Rauf was early to strike as he dismissed in-form opener, Saif Hasan, in a sharp 2-0-17-1 strike in the first six overs.
Although Rauf is known to be a leakage bowler, his strike rate of one wicket every 15 balls is among the second-best amongst bowlers in Pakistan with 50 or more T20I wickets. Since the 2022 Asia Cup final and the 2022 T20 World Cup final, Rauf has again come to the rescue during moments of pressure and has been indispensable whenever Pakistan requires the first few wickets.
Now that Pakistan’s pacers have taken 23 wickets with a strike rate of 15.91 in this Asia Cup, more wickets than the spinners, some questions are being raised as to whether Pakistan should use an additional expert pacer in the final. Though spin has been traditionally the favourite in the Dubai International Stadium, the figures indicate that it is Pakistan’s quicks who may characterize the match with India.
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