Pakistan Focus On Shaheen Afridi Revival At Nets; Usama Mir May Replace Shadab Khan vs Australia

Pakistan players trooped into the Chinnaswamy Stadium on a clement Wednesday afternoon, looking every inch unhurried and talking boisterously to each other, except one. Shaheen Shah Afridi was all business and walked to the centre straightaway in the company of bowling coach Morne Morkel. Pakistan camp might have heaved a sigh of relief to see that as the strapping left-arm pacer did not show any signs of a draining fever that had gripped the team upon its arrival in the City, while engaging himself fully in the ensuing net session.

Afridi took a good look at the pitch which sported a tinge of green before starting the day's proceedings with stretching and some assorted warm-up drills.

Soon, the 23-year-old shifted himself to the centre nets and started bowling with short run-ups as Morkel watched him from up close.

As the session progressed, Afridi stepped up on the pace and troubled the right-handed batters with those sharp, incoming deliveries.

Later, he tried his hand in batting as well, facing his teammates and a few throwdowns from the sidearm specialist.

But the whole exercise holds a deeper meaning for Pakistan as in the absence of injured Naseem Shah, Afridi is expected to shoulder the team's attack in the World Cup.

However, he was not delivered yet on the expected lines. Afridi has taken four wickets from three matches and his economy rate of 6.31 is the second worst among Pakistan bowlers behind leg-spinner Shadab Khan, 6.55.

His average for the tournament stands at 34.75, and both those stats are significantly higher than his career numbers - 5.51 and 23.87.

Not so long ago, Afridi was a fearsome presence with the new ball, inflicting some serious damage in the Powerplay segment to rob opposition teams of