Ravi Shastri expressed worry about Pakistan's outlook in the upcoming 2023 World Cup due to the absence of Naseem Shah, who is sidelined due to injury.
He remarked, "Without Naseem Shah, Pakistan's strength takes a hit." In his quest for insights on Pakistan's spin department, Shastri pointed out a significant decline in spin quality compared to the past, saying, "The quality of spin bowling in Pakistan has declined considerably compared to your era."
Harbhajan Singh agreed with Shastri's assessment and highlighted the illustrious spinners of the past like Saqlain Mushtaq, Saeed Ajmal, and Shahid Afridi. He criticized Shadab Khan's bowling mindset, emphasizing that Shadab seems content with conceding fifty or sixty runs without taking wickets. According to Harbhajan, such a mindset is detrimental to a spinner's ability to contribute significantly to the team's success.
He commented, "Certainly, they used to have spin legends like Saqlain Mushtaq, Saeed Ajmal, and Shahid Afridi. Shadab looks promising, but recently, he hasn't been at his best. He seems satisfied with giving away fifty or sixty runs without taking wickets. When you have that mindset as a spinner, you won't win games for your team. I believe Pakistan's spin strength isn't what it used to be."