Shaheen, Naseem should play more domestic cricket, Usman Shinwari

Former Pakistan fast bowler Usman Shinwari has urged Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah to play more domestic and first-class cricket, arguing that regular competitive cricket can help the two premier pacers maintain their pace, fitness and longevity.

Speaking to the media, Shinwari said Pakistan has traditionally placed too much emphasis on bowling speed, often overlooking the impact of workload and continuous cricket on a fast bowler’s body.

“Even if your fitness is like Cristiano Ronaldo’s, bowling continuously can eventually affect your pace,” he said.

Shinwari described Shaheen and Naseem as outstanding bowlers and said he was not in a position to offer them personal advice. However, he stressed that playing selected domestic cricket could help them retain their rhythm and speed while reducing the risk of injuries.

The former pacer also discussed Pakistan’s upcoming challenges in England, saying tours of the country have historically been difficult for Pakistan. He believes the team can still produce a strong series if it carries its current momentum forward.

Reflecting on Pakistan’s recent Test performances against the West Indies, Shinwari said the team’s first-match performance was disappointing but praised the side for making a strong comeback in the second Test.

He emphasised the importance of consistency, saying better continuity within the team would ultimately produce better results.

Shinwari also backed the decision to restore Babar Azam to the Test captaincy, describing it as a positive move and saying Babar has the ability to lead Pakistan in the longest format.

Another major point raised by Shinwari was Pakistan’s approach to selecting players across different opponents. He argued that the same combination should not automatically be used against teams with vastly different playing conditions and strengths.

Discussing Mohammad Abbas, Shinwari questioned the excessive focus on speed. He noted that Abbas had taken eight wickets at around 125kph in a recent match, arguing that the pacer’s best years were affected because too much importance had been attached to increasing his pace.

“Speed is important, but it should not be given excessive importance,” he said.

On Ihsanullah, Shinwari said the fast bowler had expressed grievances and suggested that his disciplinary issues should be addressed.

Despite his experience, Shinwari made it clear that he has no plans to become Pakistan’s national team coach. He argued that coaches, like players, should progress through a structured system rather than being appointed directly to the national side.

His comments have once again highlighted the debate over workload management, pace, domestic cricket and long-term planning in Pakistan’s fast-bowling system.