Panchal Critiques Afridi and Rauf After India Victory
In a recent social media post, former Gujarat captain Priyank Panchal took aim at Pakistani bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf after their dismal performance against India in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours. Following India's six-wicket victory, Panchal questioned the hype surrounding these two bowlers, suggesting that their performances do not match the accolades they receive.
During the match in Dubai, Afridi failed to take any wickets and conceded 40 runs in just 3.5 overs. This led Panchal to criticize him for lacking the essential qualities of pace and discipline. He expressed confusion over the continued admiration for Afridi, stating, “I’ll always fail to understand the hype around Shaheen Afridi. Classic case of a few good deliveries years ago lengthening someone’s faltering career. No zip, no pace, no discipline.”
Panchal, who has an impressive record with more than 8,000 First-Class runs, did not stop at Afridi. He also criticized Rauf, who was seen engaging in animated chatter with Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. This banter backfired as the duo formed a formidable 105-run opening partnership. Panchal remarked, “I struggle to remember the last time Haris Rauf was effective. All talk, no play.”
Despite Rauf managing to take the wickets of Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav and wicket-keeper Sanju Samson later in the innings, the damage had been done. The explosive start by Gill and Sharma made chasing down the target of 172 runs a straightforward task for India. Panchal's comments reflect a broader sentiment about the performance of Pakistani players, suggesting that they have been overly hyped without delivering consistent results on the international stage.
As the tournament progresses, Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in a bid to keep their final hopes alive, while India will be looking to secure their place in the finals with a win over Bangladesh. The performances of Afridi and Rauf will be closely watched, as the pressure mounts on the Pakistani team to prove their worth.
