Former England captain Nasser Hussain revealed his assessment of Pakistan’s side before this summer’s World Cup, saying he has high hopes for their young pace contingent.
While labelling the side ‘mercurial’, he picked out 19-year old quicks Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Hasnain as surprise elements, and said Pakistan couldn’t be ruled out from winning the tournament.
Afridi averages 19.36 from 10 ODIs, having made a blistering start to his international career, while Hasnain, who made his debut in the format against Australia in March, has already impressed everyone with his raw pace.
“I see him as a big-match player, and one only has to think back to how he bowled in the Champions Trophy final and the players he got out. There is no doubt that he gets great players out when he is on song.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, with his recent statistics, nobody has a god-given right to be on the team sheet day-in, day-out, and you have to perform. Like I said, Pakistan will always have top-quality pace-bowlers so competition for places will be intense.”
Pakistan play England on May 5 in a solitary T20I, before the ODIs get underway.
