Shaheen Afridi dismisses concerns over reduced pace following injury. Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s prominent fast bowler, has addressed worries regarding his decline in bowling speed since his return from a knee injury.

The left-arm bowler emphasized that taking wickets held greater significance for him than relying solely on blistering pace.

“Everyone has an opinion on it [the pace], but I feel good about myself. Even if I’m bowling at 110kmph and taking wickets, I feel good,” Afridi expressed during an interview with ESPNCricinfo. “I give my all on the field, and that matters more. Speed is not as crucial, and if there has been a dip, it will improve with time.”

Shaheen initially injured his knee while fielding during a test match against Sri Lanka. The recovery period kept him out of crucial bilateral series and the Asia Cup until his return for the T20 World Cup.

Unfortunately, he suffered a recurrence of the same injury during the final against England, which many believe had a detrimental impact on Pakistan’s performance in the tournament—an aspect not lost on Shaheen.

Despite the decrease in pace, Shaheen remains Pakistan’s primary strike bowler as he continues working towards regaining his previous level. He is currently preparing to represent Nottinghamshire in the Vitality T20 Blast.