Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja has raised concerns about Shaheen Afridi's recent struggles, saying the left-arm pacer's difficulties may not be entirely related to his recovery from a knee injury. During a recent appearance on an international podcast alongside former England greats Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, David Lloyd and Phil Tufnell, Raja was asked about Afridi's absence from Pakistan's red-ball side. The discussion came amid concerns over the decline in pace bowling during the ongoing Test series.
The panel also highlighted the performance of left-arm spinner Ali Usman, who claimed a five-wicket haul at a venue traditionally regarded as favourable to fast bowlers. The performance prompted questions over the current standards and effectiveness of pace bowling in Test cricket, with the hosts wondering what had happened to Pakistan's once-renowned fast-bowling talent. While acknowledging that Afridi may still not be fully fit, Raja suggested that there were also perceptions of an attitude issue surrounding the pacer.
The former captain pointed to concerns over Afridi's mood, his treatment within the team environment and possible administrative shortcomings, arguing that such factors could influence a player's performances on the field. However, Raja stressed that he did not know Afridi well enough to make a definitive judgement, while noting that there was a general feeling within the dugout that the pacer was not always fully engaged.
"I don't know what's happened with him, so obviously he's not 100% after that knee injury. But people say there's an attitude problem as well. I don't know; I don't know him well enough," Raja said. "But there's just a general feeling in the dugout that he's not 100% there all the time, so mood swings, not being treated properly and administrative lapses do figure into his performance on the field as well," he added.
Raja also questioned the growing tendency to categorise certain young players as white-ball specialists or future limited-overs assets. He stressed that Pakistan needed players capable of adapting to the demands of Test cricket, particularly when playing in challenging overseas conditions. According to Raja, Test tours of countries such as England and Australia provide players with a crucial opportunity to establish themselves on the international stage, while also playing an important role in shaping a player's reputation and career.