Shaheen better than most even at 90 per cent fitness, says Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting; (right) Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi celebrates a SA wicket in Sydney on Thursday. Pic/Getty Images

Ahead of Pakistan's semi-final clash against New Zealand in T20 World Cup in Sydney, legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting has revealed that Shaheen Afridi, even if not at his best, will have more impact on the game than most "because of how good he is."

Asia Cup blow for Afridi

Afridi missed the entire Asia Cup in the UAE and the seven-match T20I series against England at home before the T20 World Cup because of a knee injury, but Ponting said, even if the tall quick is operating at 90 per cent of his capacity, he is better than all the other bowlers.

Afridi produced his best performance of the World Cup so far when he collected superb figures of 4-22 against Bangladesh on Sunday and that spell helped Pakistan earn the semi-final spot.

"He might say that he's not back to 100 per cent just yet, but from what I've seen it looks like he's going along beautifully and he now holds the key to Pakistan progressing in the tournament," Ponting told ICC.

Afridi had hurt his right knee while fielding during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle in July and the recovery and rehabilitation have been slow for the 22-year-old. He went wicketless during Pakistan's opening two games of the tournament against India and Zimbabwe, but Ponting said he always had faith in the left-arm bowler.

"So look, he might have had a few worries in the back of his own mind, but not anymore," added Ponting.

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Needs backing like Kohli

Ponting compared Afridi's return to form to the way India's Virat Kohli had sprung to life in Australia and indicated sometimes you just need to put your faith in the champion players to produce on the big stage.

"It's almost a bit like the India scenario with Virat [Kohli] coming into this tournament," Ponting noted.

"Sometimes you just have to stick with them and pick them and let them go because champion players will find a way to get the job done. And as the tournament's gone on, he [Afridi] has got better and better," added Ponting.

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