Shaheen Afridi Explains Pakistan’s Pace Bowling Problem

Ahead of his debut in the 2025–26 Big Bash League (BBL 15) with the Brisbane Heat, Pakistan’s premium fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi shed light on a long-standing issue affecting Pakistan’s pace attack.

Speaking on a BBL podcast, Shaheen expressed hope that Australian wickets would offer more assistance to bowlers compared with the flatter surfaces he’s accustomed to back home.

In a viral clip from the interview, he said he was looking forward to using the “Australian wickets” to his advantage, hinting that tracks in Pakistan provide less support for bowlers than those overseas.

“It’s more flat wickets in Pakistan,” Shaheen remarked, suggesting that local surfaces tend not to reward seam movement or bounce in the way some foreign wickets do.

His comments came as part of a broader discussion on how he plans to adapt his bowling approach in Australia and how he prepares to bowl to familiar opponents such as Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

Shaheen also emphasized his role in Brisbane Heat’s attack as someone tasked with taking early wickets and building pressure on the opposition, a role he hopes to execute more effectively on more bowler-friendly decks.

Statistical trends over recent years indicate that Shaheen’s comments reflect a real challenge for Pakistan’s pacers when playing at home.

Since 2020, pacers in Pakistan Tests have often struggled for traction compared with counterparts from other major cricketing nations. Analysis shows quick bowlers for Pakistan in home Test matches have taken fewer wickets at higher averages, with many matches featuring batting-dominated scoring and little seam assistance for bowlers.

In more than 30 innings at home since 2020, fast bowlers’ average has hovered around 40 runs per wicket, while spin bowlers have tended to account for a larger share of dismissals in those conditions.