"A big player feels bad when he doesn't perform as per expectations" - Harbhajan Singh lauds Shaheen Afridi's spell in PAK vs IRE 2024 T20 WC clash
Harbhajan Singh has lauded Shaheen Afridi for bowling a potent spell in Pakistan's 2024 T20 World Cup win against Ireland. He noted that the Men in Green's premier seamer would have been disappointed as he didn't live up to expectations in their first three games of the tournament.
Afridi registered figures of 3/22 in four overs as Pakistan restricted Ireland to 106/9 after asking them to bat first in Lauderhill, Florida, on Sunday, June 16. Babar Azam and company then achieved the target with three wickets and seven deliveries to spare to end their campaign with a win.
While reviewing the game on Star Sports, Harbhajan observed that Afridi might have felt that he let his team down in previous games.
"Shaheen Afridi bowled well. He came in proper form slightly late in this tournament. Their tournament is over but this match would give him confidence for sure. A big player feels bad when he doesn't perform as per expectations," he said.
The former India spinner added that the Pakistan left-arm seamer would feel better after Sunday's performance.
"However, he will feel better today as he did a job where both he and his team will feel nice. As he said, their focus will be on the future. They will reflect on whatever has happened, rectify their mistakes and move forward," Harbhajan stated.
Afridi picked up only two wickets in Pakistan's first three games in the ongoing T20 World Cup. He went wicketless in the Men in Green's Super Over loss to the United States of America, a defeat that eventually cost them a Super 8 berth.
"There was a lot of help from the pitch but despite that, you have to pitch the ball at the right spot" - Harbhajan Singh on Shaheen Afridi
Harbhajan Singh praised Shaheen Afridi for making the most of the seamer-friendly conditions.
"There was a lot of help from the pitch but despite that, you have to pitch the ball at the right spot, from where the ball goes and hits the stumps or the pads. He generally bowls those deliveries. He bowled a very good ball (to Andy Balbirnie), which was far from the bat and it got a chance to swing," he explained.
The cricketer-turned-commentator noted that the tall seamer deceived the batters by moving the balls both ways before bowling a lethal yorker.
"After that, he took the ball away. He was like a sword that cuts from both sides - the first ball came in and the second ball went away. When the batter was waiting for an incoming delivery, the ball went out. When the earlier batter was waiting for the ball to move away, it came in. After that, he bowled a yorker," Harbhajan observed.
Afridi castled Andy Balbirnie with an incoming delivery in the game's first over. He then had Lorcan Tucker caught behind in the same over before trapping Harry Tector leg-before-wicket in his second over.