Legendary fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has taken a swipe at Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi after the recently concluded Zimbabwe Test series on Monday. Akhtar, who is known for his unfiltered cricketing analysis has addressed the debate around Shaheen’s workload management. The former Pakistani fast bowler feels Shaheen’s workload should never be a topic of discussion in the Pakistan cricket spectrum. 

Nicknamed the Rawalpindi Express, Akhtar suggested that the Pakistani think tank should not worry about the workload management of the star pacer. Rubbishing the workload concerns about the Pakistani speed merchant, Akhtar also took a sly dig at Shaheen by giving honourable mentions to pace bowling greats, Imran Khan and Wasim Akram. 

Speaking to a Pakistani channel as reported by Cricket Pakistan, Akhtar questioned Shaheen’s fitness and highlighted the overs he bowled in Pakistan’s comfortable wins against hosts Zimbabwe.”He [Shaheen] would have bowled around 90 overs in his T20I career so far. In his last eight Test matches, he would have bowled around 150 overs. Is he tired already? Is it too much workload?” Akhtar questioned during a discussion.  

The Rawalpindi Express then claimed that former Pakistan skipper Imran and pace ace Wasim used to bowl more overs than Shaheen in the nets during their playing days. “Stop bringing workload concerns again and again with regards to Shaheen Afridi. Imran Khan and Wasim Akram used to bowl more overs than him in the nets alone,” Akhtar added.

Shaheen bowled 14 overs in the 1st innings of the 2nd and final Test between Pakistan and Zimbabwe. After taking a wicket in Zimbabwe’s first essay, the pacer returned with a five-wicket haul and guided the Babar Azam-led side to a remarkable win over Brendan Taylor-led side at the Harare Sports Club on Monday. Abid Ali’s unbeaten 215 and Shaheen’s bowling heroics powered Pakistan to a massive win in the 2nd Test. Pakistan thrashed the hosts by an innings and 147 runs to clinch the Test series with a 2-0 margin.