Shahid Afridi was better suited for Test cricket: Akhtar, Latif

Former Pakistan cricketers Rashid Latif and Shoaib Akhtar believe that flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi should have given more attention to Test cricket, during his international career.     

Afridi played 27 Test matches for Pakistan, scoring 1716 runs and claiming 48 wickets. He made his debut against Australia at Karachi’s National Stadium in 1998.

Akhtar, who holds the record for bowling the fastest delivery in cricket history, said that Afridi was a better Test cricketer as compared to ODI.

“I always told Shahid Afridi that you are much better Test player as compared to ODIs,” said Akhtar on a local sports channel. “I have always believed that he was a much better bowler than a batsman.”

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Meanwhile, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif added that Afridi wanted to focus on white-ball cricket, only, despite being advised against it.

“Shahid Afridi should not have left Test cricket because he had a decent record. We also advised him against quitting Test cricket but he had made up his mind about focusing on white-ball cricket,” said Latif.

Afridi retired from Test cricket in 2005 but came back for the 2006 series in England before retiring again. He retired from Tests for a third time after the second test against Australia in Leeds in 2010.