Moeen Ali has expressed skepticism regarding the commonly held belief that Pakistan boasts one of the finest fast-bowling trios in international cricket. The former England all-rounder contends that although Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah possess considerable talent, they do not rank among the elite bowlers in the current game.

His comments follow Pakistan's underwhelming performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where the team was eliminated in the group stage.

During a podcast discussion with Adil Rashid, Moeen raised doubts about whether Pakistan's pace attack truly merits its esteemed reputation.

"There is a perception, particularly among those of Pakistani descent, that Pakistan has the best seam bowlers. I disagree. They are skilled, but they are not the best," Moeen stated.

“Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf are indeed good players. Please don’t misunderstand me; I am not labeling them as poor performers, but they are not the top tier in the field right now,” he elaborated.

Pakistan's performance in the Champions Trophy was disappointing, as they finished at the bottom of Group A after losing to New Zealand on home soil and facing defeat against India in Dubai. Their match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain, resulting in a winless tournament for them.

The individual efforts of their fast bowlers did little to enhance their standing. Shaheen Afridi had a particularly tough match against New Zealand, conceding 68 runs in his 10 overs without claiming a wicket. Although he took two wickets against India, he allowed 74 runs in just eight overs.

Naseem Shah also struggled, giving away 63 runs while taking two wickets against New Zealand, and he failed to make an impact against India, finishing wicketless with 37 runs conceded in eight overs. Haris Rauf faced challenges as well, allowing 83 runs in his full quota against New Zealand while securing two wickets. He was ineffective against India, conceding 52 runs in seven overs without adding to his wicket tally.

Pakistan tour NZ

As Pakistan aims to reorganize, they are set to compete against New Zealand in a five-match T20I series, followed by three One Day Internationals, commencing on March 16. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf have been included in the T20I roster, while Naseem Shah will participate in the ODI series.

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