Shaheen Shah Afridi has emerged as one of Pakistan’s most talked-about fast bowlers in recent years. Often hailed as the future of Pakistan’s pace attack, he has received widespread acclaim for his ability to swing the ball at pace and produce early breakthroughs.

However, despite the accolades, a growing section of analysts and fans believe that Shaheen Shah Afridi is "overrated".

Dependence On Early Wickets

One of Afridi’s most well-documented strengths is his ability to take wickets with the new ball. His tendency to generate swing and attack the stumps has led to many early dismissals.

However, his effectiveness significantly declines once the ball loses its shine. Unlike truly great fast bowlers who maintain their threat throughout an innings, Afridi often fades after his initial burst.

His lack of adaptability in different phases of the game raises questions about whether he deserves to be rated among the elite fast bowlers of modern cricket.

Lack Of Consistency In Longer Formats

Afridi’s Test record, while respectable, lacks the consistency expected of a world-class fast bowler. While he has delivered some remarkable spells, he has also had prolonged periods of ineffectiveness, particularly in unhelpful conditions.

His inability to reverse swing the ball with the same effectiveness as legendary Pakistani pacers like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis limits his impact in the latter stages of an innings.

Moreover, his performances in Test cricket are often exaggerated due to his occasional match-winning spells, overshadowing his frequent struggles on flat or slow pitches.

Unlike true greats who can adapt to different surfaces, Afridi seems overly reliant on conditions favouring swing and seam movement.

Limited Variations And Predictability

One of the biggest criticisms of Shaheen Shah Afridi is his lack of variation. While he possesses a deadly yorker and a sharp inswinger, his bowling arsenal lacks the subtle variations that make a fast bowler truly world-class.

His stock deliveries are often predictable, allowing batsmen to settle once they have survived the initial spell. Great bowlers constantly evolve their skills to remain effective against top-tier batsmen, but Afridi has shown little progress in this regard.

Additionally, his over-reliance on full-length deliveries makes him vulnerable to aggressive batsmen who capitalise on his predictability.

Once the opposition negates his opening burst, he often struggles to maintain pressure, leading to an increase in his economy rate.

Struggles In Major ICC Tournaments

A key factor that differentiates the truly great bowlers from the merely good ones is their performances in high-pressure situations.

Shaheen Shah Afridi has yet to consistently prove himself in major ICC tournaments. While he has had individual moments of brilliance, he has also been expensive in crucial matches, raising concerns about his ability to handle pressure.

The greatest fast bowlers deliver when their teams need them the most, but Afridi has not consistently done so on the biggest stages.

Injury Concerns And Durability Issues

Another major concern regarding Afridi is his fitness and durability. He has already suffered multiple injury setbacks in his young career, which raises doubts about his longevity at the highest level.

Many great fast bowlers have had long careers despite the physical demands of fast bowling, but Afridi’s recurring fitness issues may prevent him from reaching those heights.

His persistent knee injuries have led to periods of absence, disrupting his rhythm and making it difficult for him to sustain form.

A truly world-class bowler is one who can consistently perform over an extended period, and Afridi has not yet demonstrated that durability.

Comparisons With Pakistani Greats

When compared with Pakistan’s legendary fast bowlers, Afridi’s record appears underwhelming. The likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar consistently delivered match-winning performances across formats and conditions.

These bowlers adapted their skills, developed variations, and maintained their dominance for years.

In contrast, Afridi remains largely dependent on early swing and struggles to be as effective when the conditions are not in his favour.

Final Words

While Shaheen Shah Afridi is undoubtedly a talented bowler with the potential to achieve greatness, the argument that he is overrated is not without merit. His dependence on early wickets, inconsistency in longer formats, lack of variations, struggles in high-pressure tournaments, injury concerns, and underwhelming record when compared with past Pakistani greats all contribute to the perception that he may not be as elite as some claim.

If Shaheen Shah Afridi aspires to cement his place among the world’s best, he must evolve his skill set, improve his durability, and prove his effectiveness in all conditions. Until then, while he remains a good bowler, the hype surrounding him may be premature or exaggerated.