Shaheen Afridi and Team Under Fire for Dismissing Morne Morkel’s Impact as Coach!

Former South African paceman Morne Morkel has joined the Indian cricket team’s coaching staff. He started his tenure with an impressive performance from Jasprit Bumrah and the other bowlers in the first Test against Bangladesh. Morkel smiled as Indian bowlers dominated the match in Chennai, dismantling the Bangladesh batting lineup. Bumrah excelled in the first innings, taking four wickets, while Ravichandran Ashwin claimed six in the second innings.

Morkel previously had a brief stint with the Pakistan team. He became their bowling coach in June last year but parted ways after their group-stage exit from the 2024 ODI World Cup. Under his guidance, the Pakistan bowlers failed to meet expectations during the ICC event in India, leading to his departure six weeks before the end of his contract.

Former cricketer Basit Ali criticized the Pakistan bowling unit, accusing them of belittling Morkel during his time as coach. “The Pakistani bowlers consider themselves bigger than cricket. They thought Morkel was nothing compared to them,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.

He highlighted the mindset differences between Indian and Pakistani players, which is evident in their recent performances against Bangladesh. “This is the same Bangladesh team that faced Pakistan and managed to whitewash them. The difference lies in mindset, thinking, and class,” he added.

India secured a convincing victory in the opening Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, winning by 280 runs with more than a day to spare. The win showcased a strong all-round performance from the star-studded lineup.