Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif has backed Pakistan’s pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf to shine in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

The T20 World Cup will be held in the West Indies and United States of America from June 1 to 29.

Kaif noted that Afridi, Naseem and Rauf will be particularly lethal in the USA as the pitches will be more bouncy, thus providing them with more assistance in comparison to the surfaces in the Caribbean.

“Their strength lies in their fast bowling. Haris Rauf is there, Shaheen Afridi is also there, and Naseem Shah is also fit. Although Naseem Shah wasn’t in the (2023) World Cup squad, his absence was felt in bowling, he’s a good bowler, and their power lies in their pace bowling. With bouncy pitches in the USA, their fast bowlers will excel there,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

In Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Afridi took eight wickets in four games at an average of 10 and an economy rate of 7.38.

As for Naseem, he picked up two wickets in three matches at an average of 35.50 and an economy rate of 10.14.

Following this, Pakistan played three T20Is against Ireland and Afridi finished with seven wickets at an average of 12.71 and an economy rate of 7.41.

Naseem, meanwhile, claimed two wickets in two games at an average of 36.50 and an economy rate of 9.12.

Rauf didn’t feature in the New Zealand or Ireland series as he was recovering from the dislocated shoulder he suffered while representing the Lahore Qalandars in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Pakistan’s next assignment will see them play four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.

Afterwards, they will feature in the T20 World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies and United States of America from June 1 to 29.

Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.