Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has said that Pakistan’s ‘mediocre’ bowling attack did not help them against Team India in the 2025 Champions Trophy 2025 Group A encounter. However, Team India comfortably chased down the 242-run target at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, February 23, to almost seal their places in the semi-finals.

“Let’s accept it. It’s a mediocre bowling line-up. I know we are trying to defend and be respectful to Pakistan, but it is a mediocre bowling unit. Whether you look at Shaheen Shah Afridi, you look at Haris Rauf, you look at Naseem Shah, there is only Abrar who has been bowling decently,” Parthiv Patel said on Cricbuzz. “If you are saying that Khushdil Shah will give you 10 overs in a One-Day game, that will obviously be a mistake. And when you are expecting Salman Ali Agha to give you that support, that suggests to me that Pakistan does not have those bowlers.”

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However, Parthiv Patel opined on the inconsistency of the seamers, particularly Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, who gave away a combined 126 runs in their 15 overs against India.

“We are talking about a country like Pakistan which does not have a spinner in the playing XI. I mean, the Pakistan team that we used to see or we’ve grown up seeing had a completely different bowling line up than what we are seeing here. You are expecting Shaheen Shah Afridi to produce the magic in the big game, he then gives away 74 runs in 8 overs. It’s not a question about skill, it is about performing time and again. These guys are not consistent enough. You talk about Haris Rauf being hot and cold, but he is more cold than hot. That’s the harsh reality. First, accept the problem, and then look to address it. I don’t think they are accepting it right now,” Parthiv Patel concluded.