Shadab Khan has acknowledged what opposing teams have increasingly noticed on the field: Pakistan's famed pace battery is showing signs of wear. During a press interaction in Rawalpindi on Friday, the leg-spinner admitted that several senior fast bowlers are not generating the same hostile pace that once made their attack the most feared in world cricket.
"Machines Deteriorate With Time"
The 25-year-old used a striking metaphor to describe the situation. "Fast bowlers are like machines," Shadab told reporters. "Over time, the RPMs drop. You can maintain them, but eventually machines deteriorate with time." His comments came ahead of Pakistan's upcoming Test series against England, where the tourists will face a depleted pace attack missing several experienced operators.
Pakistan's pace department has relied heavily on Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah in recent years. However, all three have logged significant international mileage. Shaheen alone has bowled over 4,200 deliveries in Tests since his debut in 2018. The physical toll of that workload has begun showing in their speeds, according to Shadab.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Match footage from Pakistan's recent series against Bangladesh reveals a telling pattern. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who regularly touched 150 km/h in his early career, has been clocked at 140-145 km/h in his last four outings. Haris Rauf has seen similar declines, dropping from an average of 146 km/h to around 141 km/h in T20 internationals this season.
For Indian fans watching from across the border, this development carries significant strategic weight. India and Pakistan remain on collision courses in ICC tournaments, and a slower Pakistani pace attack fundamentally changes match-up calculations. A pace unit that once стремил at 150+ km/h now operates in a range more manageable for top-order batting line-ups.
What This Means for India
Indian selectors and team management have taken note. Sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India suggest the national team has already begun revising its preparation strategies for the 2025 Champions Trophy, where India could face Pakistan in the group stage. A Pakistan side without its raw pace edge presents different challenges than the one that troubled India's 2021 T20 World Cup batting order.
The Wider Regional Context
Shadab's candid assessment reflects broader challenges facing Pakistani cricket's development pipeline. The country has produced exceptional fast bowlers for decades, from Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis to Shoaib Akhtar and later Mohammad Amir. Yet the transition from raw talent to world-class operator appears to be taking longer, and the peak windows seem shorter.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, where Shadab grew up, cricket's appeal runs deep in mountain communities. Young bowlers from that region watch their heroes struggle with longevity and wonder about their own futures. "The pressure to bowl express pace from a young age is immense," said a coach from the GB Cricket Association, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Looking Ahead
Pakistan's team management faces a difficult balancing act. They must manage the workloads of their senior quicks while blooding newcomers who lack international exposure. The upcoming England series will test whether the current squad can compete without its traditional pace advantage.
What comes next will matter for both teams. England's batting lineup, built for pace, may find a slower Pakistani attack more navigable. If Shadab's assessment proves accurate, expect Pakistan to rely more heavily on spin in home conditions—a strategy that could reshuffle their entire match approach.
