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Shaheen Afridi Pakistan
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Pakistan's ace speedster Shaheen Afridi has had his say on workload management, with Pakistan's performances going downhill in the last one year.

Fast bowlers are more injury-prone than any other bunch of cricketers. In recent times there have been a lot of talks over workload management of pacers, however, the 22-year-oldAfridi has other thoughts on this topic.

Despite being one of the most utilised bowlers in the red-ball format in the last few years, Afridi has called the idea of workload management exaggerated.

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What did Shaheen Afridi say on workload management for cricketers?

Afridi compared the current times to the era of legendary bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Citing their examples, the Pakistan ace-pacer dismissed the need for any workload issue. 

However, that being said, the emergence of the T20 format has changed the dynamics of cricket in the current generation. Akram and Younis, Pakistan's legendary bowlers, did not face the toil of T20s in their careers. 

He said, "First of all, if you are saying that I have bowled the most in the world (among bowlers in Test cricket)… but if you look in the past, all our legends bowlers Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, at that time there was no workload issue."

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He added, "I don’t know why we have made it a big topic over the last one year that there is workload, players are getting injured. We are considering it more important. It depends individually on the players, how they play in particular formats. You need to be mentally fit and strong on how to react in different circumstances.

"It’s a small period where you need support from the management and close ones, who need to give you positive messages. I don’t know about the workload, it isn’t that much but I feel that everyone should enjoy it regardless of the format."

More: 'Gary Kirsten will be fired' - Basit Ali claims Pakistan will sack white-ball coach after Champions Trophy

What did Gary Kirsten say about Shaheen Afridi's workload?

Gary Kirsten, Pakistan's white-ball coach, has urged the need for workload management in Shaheen Shah Afridi's case. He has bowled 609 overs across 18 Test matches since 2021 and has been overburdened with responsibilities, mainly in the longer formats. 

The Pakistan coach said, "Shaheen has bowled three times more overs than any other fast bowler in the world over the last 18 months. That's alarming — you’re bound to wear him down eventually."

MORE: Kirsten raises alarm about Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi's lack of workload management

How many overs has Shaheen Afridi bowled since 2021 for Pakistan?

FormatsInningsOversWickets
Test, ODI, T20I1171063.0209

(Stats until September 16, 2024)

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Author(s)
Mohit Khakhar Photo

Mohit Khakhar is a content producer for The Sporting News India.