Vaughan likens Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah pair to Wasim & Waqar

MANCHESTER: Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels young Pakistan fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi could go on the replicate the heroics of former pacers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

The two highly-rated fast bowlers are all set to be in action when England take on Pakistan in the first Test of three-match series at Old Trafford in Manchester starting Wednesday.

Prior to the first Test, Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq hinted that they could play two spinners in the series opener and Vaughan tried to decode their strategy behind it.

"I understand why Misbah wants to play two spinners against England. Whichever way it goes, you are still going to have Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi," Vaughan told Cricbuzz in a video uploaded on their YouTube channel.

"They are high class. Particularly that young pair, we are probably talking about the new Wasim and Waqar in five years' time, with the amount of cricket that they are going to play together.

"I was fortunate to see Naseem Shah make his debut and he is high class. He has got a wonderful action. Shaheen Afridi seems to be getting better and better. With the Dukes ball, Mohammad Abbas is going to move it and bring the batsman forward, which is exactly what you require," he added.

Vaughan's words came soon after Misbah touted 17-year-old Naseem to do well in England. The former Pakistan captain went on to say that Naseem is now ready to win Test matches for Pakistan.

"Waqar Younis and I just saw him [Naseem Shah] in the Gaddafi Stadium and he just looked like a complete bowler and we decided that even though he hadn't played first-class cricket he should go to Australia," Misbah told reporters.

"By the time he arrived there he had played four games and taken 17 wickets. We could see the potential but now we've got the evidence at international level; he's already got a hat-trick and five-fers. He is one who could win a Test match on his own," he added. IANS

Also Watch: #NewsMakers: Bharat Bhushan Dev Choudhury, Secy. General Administration, Gov. of Assam, Dispur