Can we consider Shahid Afridi as a genuine ODI spinner?

I firmly believe that we need a genuine spinner in our ODI line up for the World cup! Afridi is much improved ODI bowler but is he good enough to bowl his full quota of 10 overs in 80% of the matches? and is he good enough to rip through quality middle orders on helpful pitches? If the answer to either one of those 2 questions is "No" then we will need to take Kaneria or A Rehman to the West Indies.

I think he is. See, ODIs have never been about specialists. Because all-rounders fill those spots much better because they can do both. Afridi is a proven ODI spinner and has bowled much better then Kaneria. Also, Malik is also is a very good ODI spinner. He has proven to take wickets and be economical. But if we take anyone to Windies for ODIs, its gonna be Amjad. We just can't afford 4 specialist bowlers in ODIs.

Frankly, the guy should be utilized for 20-20 cricket only.
Its even better if we can wait for the 10-10 version to happen, he can captain the side then.

IMHO AMjad hasn't done enough to be considered! He was even struggling to make the A team

I would give Dani a try , preferably before the WC

He was a huge disappointment in the test series. His simply does not have any ability to defend.

So no afridi in ODIs, thats what you want to say?

It's worth a go. He's under utilised as a bowler.

oh coem on

get

both afridi and malik as our odi spinners is enuff imo

This thread doesn't make any sense! Aren't Afridi & Malik Pakistan's main spinners in ODI already? Atleast thats what Bob Woolmer once said on his website...

No! Before both Afridi and Malik were considered allrounders and were not expected to bowl their full quota of 10 overs! In recent times Afridi has improved his bowling so my question is that should we now consider Afridi as a genuine spinner who can get in to the ODI team purely as a bowler?

Remember the story of Abdul Qadir everyone!
No more needs to be said.

Well i am not comfortable with the fact that below average bowlers like S Malik, A Razzaq and Afridi have to bowl 20 out of the 50 overs in EVERY match!

I feel comfortable with Afridi and Malik sharing the ODIs spinning duties, in Hafeez we have a more than able deputy who could even come into the team and make a 3 man spin team. There really is no need for a specialist spinner, especially if its going to be Kaniera who is a useless fielder and useless batsman and has been poor mainly when he has been given a chance in the ODIs. Amjad is still some way off from being selected, how many 18 year old spinner play international cricket, leg spin is a hard art to master and takes years of practice.

Akhtar
Asif
Rana
Razzaq
Afridi
Malik

That is a very good ODI bowling attack.

shahid afridi isn't a good spinner

Containment is very important in ODI's and Afridi has been doing reasonably well in that department. I also think that we should never regard Afridi as a specialist batsman. We should always let him become a 'pinch hitter'

Afridi is very important because of his variety which can cause batsman guessing

Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik had India in all sorts of trouble many a times in ODI cricket. IMO, Afridi can be considered a genuine ODI spinner because he regularly picks up wickets and is economical. Same could be said for Malik IF and ONLY IF he ddin't have all those elbow problems.

Afridi is a BOWLING ALL ROUNDER. he is more consistant with the ball than with the Bat.

I agree with you lad. He has gotten all his wickets till now with nothing but "Luck"

Afridi can definitely be considered an ODI spinner. With Malik in the team, they can both be used for 15-20 overs between them.

In ODI cricket, containment is also imperative and I feel Afridi and Malik are both capable in locking one end down.