KARACHI: Leg-spinning duo of Shahid Afridi and Yasir Shah can play vital role in Pakistan’s upcoming World Cup match against the West Indies at Christchurch on Feb 21, legendary left-arm spinner and ex-chief selector Iqbal Qasim said on Tuesday.

“Cricketers from the Caribbean Islands have always shown vulnerability against quality leg-spinners,” Iqbal said in an interview here. “Both Afridi and Yasir can capitalise on this weakness of West Indies if they bowl smartly,” he added.

“Remember Afridi bulldozed the West Indies batting in 2011 World Cup quarter-final in Dhaka with four wickets.”

He said Yasir looked under pressure and excited in the game against India and wasn’t able to produce a good performance. “But if he flights the ball and come up with some wicket-taking googlies he can be lethal.”

However, Iqbal warned Pakistan to beware of West Indies’ flamboyant style because “just like the green-shirts, the West Indians are also a highly unpredictable and dangerous team.

“Players like Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmon, Darren Bravo, Darren Sammy and Andre Russel could pose quite a threat to Pakistan bowling,” warned Iqbal.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2015

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