As the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup approaches, teenage pace sensation Shaheen Afridi is reassured by the weight of experience in his side's ranks.
Being branded the next Wasim Akram, Shaheen Afridi was given the reins to Pakistan's bowling attack. Fast bowler excited by the inclusion of fellow pacers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz in Pakistan's squad.
"They are very senior and experienced players. They have played a lot of cricket around the world and for Pakistan. It's good for me, as this is my first World Cup, to have very senior players alongside me in the bowling attack," Afridi said.
This is Afridi's first appearance at a senior showpiece but he represented the country at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2018, claiming 12 wickets in five matches, analysts said, adding:
"His considerable skill immediately came to the fore in Pakistan's three-match ODI series against New Zealand in 2018, taking nine wickets at 11.33."
This month's series clash with England was an uncomfortable experience for Pakistani bowlers, who conceded over 300 runs in all four completed matches.
But with their second warm-up match against Bangladesh washed out, Afridi hailed the importance of the five-match series for their preparation.
"We have trained very well recently," he said, adding: "We have already played a full series against England so we already feel ready for the World Cup. It was a tough series for our team. We were playing against the number one side in the world at home. But we learnt a lot and it was good preparation."