Lahore, March 14 (NationPress) Former fast bowler and current Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed has praised the exceptional pacer Jasprit Bumrah, stating that he is a bowler who makes it extremely difficult for batters to establish their rhythm or flow during a match. Recently, Bumrah claimed 14 wickets, tying for the title of leading wicket-taker in India's victorious 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.

Javed, who was part of Pakistan's 1992 World Cup-winning team under Imran Khan, expressed his admiration for Bumrah, likening him to 'the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers'. He remarked, "In this modern era, throughout this entire World Cup, there is only one bowler of his caliber—Bumrah. He is truly unique and stands apart from typical bowlers.

“His bowling action is unconventional. Whenever he steps up to bowl, I often say he resembles the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers. He delivers the ball with remarkable speed and in an extraordinary style that prevents any batter from finding their flow or rhythm against him. He simply does not permit it," Javed shared with reporters during a press conference on Saturday.

Furthermore, he noted that Bumrah possesses a presence reminiscent of legendary Pakistani bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in their prime. "Aside from him, can you name another bowler in this entire World Cup, from any team, who evokes the same level of confidence as a Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis? You won't find another one," Javed added.

During the press conference, Javed also supported Pakistan's recent performances over the last 18 months, acknowledging their early exits from the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, which included defeats to their rivals India.

As Pakistan currently competes in an ODI series in Bangladesh, Javed mentioned that losses to India on significant occasions have become a familiar occurrence for the team. "The India-Pakistan match holds great significance for us, yet we have never managed to defeat India in a World Cup. The record stands at 8-0 (or 8-1 in T20 World Cups). The finest captains since 1975, across all generations, have faced them, and we've never prevailed; the result remains 8-0 (8-1)."

“However, looking past that, we qualified for the second round, losing just one game against England. Did anything else happen? It was impossible to win by the required margin against Sri Lanka. We lost only one match and missed out solely due to net run rate. It's not as dire as to claim that our cricket is in ruins," he concluded.