Tag: Shaheen Afridi

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi is expected to be excluded from the national team’s upcoming red-ball assignments.

A day earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a training camp for both red and white-ball cricket. The white-ball camp runs until September 18, while the red-ball camp starts today and continues until July 10, with preparations for the West Indies tour beginning around July 15.

Shaheen was named in the white-ball camp but not in the red-ball one. According to reports, selectors plan to exclude Shaheen from the West Indies and England tours. Another separate report states he has been advised to play more first-class cricket, or else selectors may seek other options.

Shaheen, also Pakistan’s ODI captain, was part of the recent Bangladesh tour squad, where he took 3/113 and 2/54 in the first Test. His speed during the tour drew criticism, as he struggled to consistently exceed 140 kph, often operating around 134 kph.

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Overall, he has taken 126 wickets at an average of 28.13 in 34 Tests since making his debut im

Pakistan is currently enjoying a break from international cricket, with their next assignment, a two-match Test series against the West Indies, scheduled for July 25–29 and August 2–6 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Following the West Indies tour, Pakistan will travel to England for three Test matches.

Pakistan Red-Ball Camp Squad (22 players):

Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Abrar Ahmed, Ali Usman, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Obaid Shah, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saqib Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shahzad Gul and Shan Masood.

READ: England face selection dilemma over Jofra Archer return

LAHORE: Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi praised the team’s performance after the series win over Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday night. 

Shaheen Afridi starred with the ball, scalping three wickets to fold Australia for 157 in 42 overs.

In reply, Pakistan aced a tricky chase with contributions from Babar Azam, top-scoring with 40 off 84 balls. Shadab Khan and Abdul Samad forged an unbeaten 49* run stand that propelled the home side to victory.

Shaheen Afridi was awarded the player of the match for his impressive bowling.

With this, the Green Shirts sealed the ODI series 2-1 against Australia.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Shaheen lauded the team’s performance in challenging conditions.

“I think it was a complete team effort throughout the series. The conditions were tough for the batters, but every run counted, and the players put in a great effort,” he said.

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He also highlighted the importance of home advantage while recalling the conditions in Australia.

“Whenever you’re playing in your own conditions, you try to make the most of them. When we went to Australia and won the series there, the conditions suited fast bowling,” he added.

The skipper particularly praised fast bowler Haris Rauf, revealing the bowlers’ game plan in the series decider.

“I think our batters contributed well, and throughout the series, the bowlers consistently hit the right areas. Haris Rauf deserves a lot of credit; he had an excellent series. A couple of partnerships did develop for Australia during the series but our plan was to create as many dot balls as possible and build pressure.”

“All of our bowlers executed their plans well and the credit goes to them. I will keep trying to do whatever I can to help my team improve, and God willing, I will continue to do so in the future,” he concluded.

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LAHORE: Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said extra runs and early wickets proved costly in the second ODI against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Shaheen admitted that conceding extra runs at the back end of the innings proved costly. The skipper added that early wickets and a tricky surface also contributed to his side’s defeat.

“I think we gave away 20-30 extra runs towards the end. We lost wickets early on and that built pressure on us. [Different surface than Pindi] It is a spinning track, not easy to bat on. Yes, in the second innings the ball comes nicely onto the bat, but the way Nathan Ellis bowled well; he bowled stump to stump and that brought him success,” Shaheen said.

Despite the defeat, Shaheen expressed confidence in bouncing back in the final ODI to seal the series.a1`

“We will try to win the game. There’s just a day’s gap, so we won’t look too much at our mistakes,” he stated.

He also highlighted the pitch behavior, noting that bowling in the right channels proved effective and that his side was unable to make proper use of the older ball.

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“Yes, on these wickets, the more you bowl in the line of the stumps, the more it helps since it doesn’t swing much. When it started to reverse, the ball was changed so our bowlers didn’t get much help from the old ball,” he concluded.

Earlier, Australia handed Pakistan a 41-run defeat to level the series 1-1, with the final match to be played on the same venue on Thursday.

Set 232, Pakistan were bowled out for 190 in 44 overs with Shadab Khan remaining the top-scorer for them. He scored 71 off 104, including three sixes and a four.

Nathan Ellis starred with the ball for the visitors, scalping four wickets for 33 in his nine overs. Matthew Short also chipped in with three wickets to his name.

READ: Shaheen Afridi scripts unique record against Australia

LAHORE: Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi achieved a unique feat against Australia, becoming the third Pakistan captain to take a wicket on the first ball of an ODI. 

Shaheen registered the record with Alex Carey’s wicket on the first ball of the innings. Carey chopped on a wider delivery and eventually paid the price.

With this, Shaheen joined Wasim Akram and Waqar Younas in the list of captains to achieve the feat.

Akram was the first to accomplish this feat by dismissing Andy Flower on the very first ball of their ODI against Zimbabwe in 1993. Waqar Younis later achieved the same by taking England’s Marcus Trescothick in 2001.

Pakistan captains to take wicket on the first delivery of ODI

Wasim Akram – 1993 against Zimbabwe in Karachi
Waqar Younis – 2001 against England in Leeds
Shaheen Shah Afridi – 2026 against Australia in Lahore

After Carey’s wicket, Shaheen also dismissed Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Ellis later in the innings, finishing with impressive figures of 3/36 in eight overs.

The left-arm pacer remained crucial in limiting Australia to a 231-run total in 50 overs. He was ably backed by Abrar Ahmed and Arafat Minhas, who took two wickets each.

For Australia, Cameron Green and Josh Inglis scored calculated half-centuries. Inglis made 51 off 74, while Green scored 53 off 92 deliveries.

READ: Shaheen takes three as Pakistan limit Australia to modest total

MIRPUR: Left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi became the ninth bowler from Pakistan to take 400 wickets in international cricket during the first Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.

Shaheen dismissed half-centurion Mominul Haque on the fourth day to reach the landmark feat.  With this, he joined Wasim Akram, Waqar Younas, and several other greats on the legendary list.

The 26-year-old completed the feat in his 211th international match, moving to ninth place on Pakistan’s all-time top wicket takers list across formats.

Most wickets for Pakistan in International matches

• Wasim Akram – 916
• Waqar Younis – 789
• Imran Khan – 544
• Shahid Afridi – 538
• Saqlain Mushtaq – 496
• Saeed Ajmal – 447
• Shoaib Akhtar – 438
• Umar Gul – 427
• Shaheen Afridi – 400*

In 74 ODIs, Shaheen has picked up 139 wickets, while in 103 T20Is, he has taken 136 wickets.

Earlier on day one, he also became the first Pakistani bowler to complete 100 wickets in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

Among Pakistan’s leading wicket-takers in the WTC, Afridi stands at the top with 103 wickets, followed by Noman Ali (89), Sajid Khan (63), Naseem Shah (60), Abrar Ahmed (46), Yasir Shah (41), Hasan Ali (35), and Mohammad Abbas (34).

Most wickets for Pakistan in the ICC World Test Championship

• Shaheen Afridi – 100*
• Noman Ali – 89
• Sajid Khan – 63
• Naseem Shah – 60
• Abrar Ahmed – 46
• Yasir Shah – 41
• Hasan Ali – 35
• Mohammad Abbas – 34

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MIRPUR: Former Pakistan cricketer and renowned commentator Ramiz Raja called Shaheen Afridi a ‘medium pacer’ during the first day of the opening Test match against Bangladesh.

During commentary, Ramiz highlighted Shaheen’s pace and compared him to Bangladesh’s fast bowlers.

“We don’t have pacers like Nahid Rana; we have medium pacers. So far, Shaheen Afridi has looked like a medium pacer,” Raja said.

He also mentioned the struggles that modern-day fast bowlers face in the longer format due to playing too much T20 cricket.

Ramiz’s assessment came after Shaheen struggled for pace, bowling between 125 and 134 km/h during his spells. He eventually finished day one with one wicket to his name while conceding 67 in 19 overs at an economy of 3.52.

Bangladesh showcased a commanding display at the end of the opening day of the first Test. The home side racked up 301 for the loss of four wickets in 85 overs, with Mushfiqur Rahim remaining unbeaten on 48 with the aid of six boundaries. On the other hand, Litton Das held firm, scoring eight not out off 35 deliveries.

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The day largely belonged to captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who hit a century. He made 101 off 130 balls, striking two sixes and 12 fours. He was well supported by Mominal Haque, who fell short of a century. The left-hander was trapped lbw for 91 by Noman Ali in the dying hours of the day.

The pair arrived at the crease when their side was reduced to 31-2 in the morning session. Both batters shared a mammoth 170-run stand from 257 deliveries, which took the sting out of Pakistan’s three-pronged pace attack.

For Pakistan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Abbas picked up one wicket each, while Noman Ali also managed to scalp one.

READ: Shaheen Afridi achieves major milestone in first Bangladesh Test

MIRPUR: Star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has set his sights firmly on guiding Pakistan towards the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, stressing that consistency across a demanding Test calendar will be key to achieving that goal.

Speaking ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, the left-arm pacer stressed the importance of consistency, preparation, and adaptability in what he described as a long and challenging Test cycle.

“We are looking forward to the challenge of the Test series. Tests are very important for us, and this is a long Test season for us, perhaps for the first time like this. We are fully prepared and ready to give our best,” Afridi said.

Pakistan are set to play a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, with the first Test scheduled at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium from May 8 to 12, followed by the second in Sylhet from May 16 to 20.

Shaheen acknowledged that home conditions naturally provide an advantage to hosting teams, but emphasised that execution and preparation remain the real deciding factors in Test cricket.

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“We hope the conditions will be good for us and we will play excellent cricket. Every team is strong in its home conditions, but what matters most is how well you prepare and execute,” he added.

He also underlined Pakistan’s broader ambitions in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, making it clear that the team’s focus extends beyond individual series.

“We are not only focused on this Test series but also on the ICC World Test Championship. Our target is to reach the final, and for that we must play our best cricket consistently,” he stated.

Looking ahead to the upcoming series against Bangladesh, Afridi noted the challenge posed by spin-friendly conditions but insisted Pakistan are well prepared for all scenarios.

“Bangladesh have previously done well on spin-friendly tracks, and every team uses home advantage. We have prepared accordingly, both for spin conditions and for a green wicket, and we are ready for every challenge,” he said.

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Lahore Qalandars delivered a heartwarming moment during the Pakistan Super League season 11 by making a young cancer-stricken fan’s dream come true, arranging a special meeting with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The fan, Farzan from Gujranwala’s Qila Didar Singh, has been battling a tumour for the past four years. His emotional video message, in which he expressed his wish to meet Afridi, quickly went viral and caught the attention of the franchise.

“My name is Farzan, and I am a huge fan of Lahore Qalandars. My greatest wish is to meet Shaheen Shah Afridi. Does he have time for me?” he said in the clip that resonated widely across social media.

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Touched by the request, the Qalandars invited Farzan to Lahore as a special guest. He watched the team’s clash against Quetta Gladiators at Gaddafi Stadium, where he finally met his idol and spent time with the players.

Afridi presented the young fan with a signed shirt and cap, while the franchise celebrated his courage, calling him a “special Qalandar” in their social media tribute.

“A very special Qalandar is in the house to support us today. Farzan, who has been fighting cancer for four years, wanted to meet his hero, Shaheen. Today, he got his wish fulfilled,” the post captioned.

 

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Farzan also enjoyed the match from the owners’ enclosure and witnessed Qalandars edge past the Gladiators in a closely fought contest. The franchise later described him as their “lucky charm,” sharing a video of his visit and interaction with the team.

 

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His father expressed gratitude to the management for the gesture and extended his best wishes to the franchise owners, acknowledging the effort made to lift his son’s spirits during a difficult time.

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LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has addressed the five-run penalty over the changing of the condition of the ball in his side’s narrow defeat to Karachi Kings during their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The incident unfolded just before the final over of the Kings’ run chase, when on-field umpires inspected the ball and ruled that its condition had been altered.

Consequently, Qalandars were handed a five-run penalty, reducing the Kings’ target from 14 runs to just nine in the final six deliveries.

The momentum shift proved decisive, as Abbas Afridi struck a boundary and a six early in the over to guide Karachi Kings to a dramatic four-wicket win.

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Speaking after the match, a visibly disappointed Shaheen admitted he was unsure about the circumstances surrounding the decision and refrained from making immediate conclusions.

“I don’t know about this [ball tampering], and we will discuss it,” Shaheen said.

“We’ll review the footage and talk about it later. The five-run penalty does hurt, but I can’t say much right now.”

Despite the controversy, the left-arm pacer reflected positively on his team’s overall effort, particularly highlighting the competitive nature of the contest.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

“It was actually a good game. We tried our best and fought till the last ball, which is what we expect from ourselves,” he said.

“Both teams were in a similar position. A total of around 120 is usually chased comfortably, but the way our bowlers fought showed the effort from the side.”

Shaheen Afridi also dismissed suggestions of a psychological disadvantage against Karachi Kings, who extended their head-to-head lead over Lahore with the victory.

“There is no mental block. My team fought till the final ball, and that’s what matters to me,” he concluded.

READ: Karachi Kings edge Lahore Qalandars in low-scoring thriller

LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators captain Saud Shakeel has clarified remarks he made about Pakistan pacers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf during a recent podcast.

A few weeks earlier, Saud appeared on a podcast in which he was asked which of three bowlers — Khurram Shehzad, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf—he would play, retire, or bench if he were the national selector.

“I will play Khurram, retire Shaheen, and bench Rauf,” Pakistan Test vice-captain had replied.

The remarks soon gained traction, with people sharing different opinions about the duo.

Ahead of PSL 11’s start, Saud said his comments were made in a light-hearted manner and were not intended seriously.

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“The podcast was done in a funny way, but it was presented as something serious,” he said.

Saud has played alongside both pacers. The two have recently been in the spotlight following inconsistent performances: Rauf was dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, while Shaheen had a below-par campaign.

Saud has played alongside Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. Both pacers have been in the spotlight following inconsistent performances. Rauf was dropped from the Pakistan squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, while Shaheen had an underwhelming campaign.

This will be the second year in a row that Saud will lead the Quetta Gladiators side.

Last season, Quetta Gladiators were outplayed in the final by Lahore Qalandars, thanks to Sikandar Raza’s heroics.

The PSL 11 will begin on March 26 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.  Quetta Gladiators will open their campaign against Karachi Kings on March 27 at the same venue.

READ: Five uncapped Pakistan players to watch out for in PSL 11