Hafeez takes an indirect dig at Ravi Shastri after Shaheen’s fifer

Former Pakistan cricketer, Mohammad Hafeez, has taken a veiled jab at former Indian cricketer, Ravi Shastri, for his recent comments about Shaheen Afridi. 

Shastri had criticized Shaheen’s performance during Pakistan’s clash against India and had said that the left-arm pacer is not an extraordinary bowler.

“Shaheen Shah Afridi is no Wasim Akram. He is a good bowler with the new ball and can pick wickets, but there is nothing special about him. He is only a decent bowler. He’s no big deal. You have to accept the truth,” Shastri had said.

Shaheen emerged as the standout performer among the Pakistan bowlers against Australia on Friday, securing five wickets and concluding with impressive figures of 5-54.

While Hafeez did not mention Shastri’s name explicitly, he said that Shaheen’s performance was a reply to his critics.

“Shaheen’s fifer is a statement to those comments, which someone has made sitting somewhere. Don’t compare Shaheen to anyone. Shaheen knows how he has to perform. When ball was going all over the park [against Australia], he made an impact and gave Pakistan hope for a victory,” Hafeez said on a local on TV channel.

Well bowled @iShaheenAfridi 5 wickets 😍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. Ur performance was a statement… Stay humble & keep rising upwards. #PAKvAUS #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/BFIyPi1NSX

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) October 21, 2023

Shaheen has etched his name alongside cricket legend Shahid Afridi by equaling the record for the most fifers for Pakistan in World Cups. Following his stellar fifer against Australia in Bengaluru on Friday, Shaheen Afridi now boasts two fifers in World Cups, mirroring Shahid Afridi’s own achievement of two fifers in the prestigious tournament.