Tag: Shaheen Afridi

GEELONG: Pakistan’s left-arm pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi suffered a difficult start to his Big Bash League (BBL) journey after being removed from the bowling attack during Brisbane Heat’s clash against Melbourne Renegades here on Monday.

Afridi’s debut summed up a rough opening week for Pakistan stars in the BBL this season, with the fast bowler struggling for control at the death.

Brought back into the attack in the 18th over by Heat captain Nathan McSweeney, Shaheen immediately came under pressure as Oliver Peake launched him for a six over deep midwicket.

Attempting to respond with fuller deliveries, the 25-year-old repeatedly missed his yorker length.

A low full toss first allowed the Renegades to escape with a single, before things unravelled further when Shaheen overstepped the mark with a waist-high full toss that was called a no-ball.

Catch Big Bash League (BBL) 15 news updates here!

Tim Seifert capitalised, muscling the delivery wide of long-on and racing back for two to complete a rapid century.

Although Shaheen briefly regained composure by firing in a pinpoint yorker on the free hit, his struggles soon returned.

Another beamer followed and was again ruled a no-ball by the on-field umpires. The delivery evaded both the batter and wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson, allowing the Renegades to steal two more runs as byes.

With two waist-high no-balls in the same over, the umpires stepped in and took Shaheen off the attack, bringing an abrupt end to a forgettable outing.

The Pakistan pacer conceded 43 runs in just 2.4 overs, a disappointing return for a player Brisbane Heat had selected as their first overseas pick in the BBL 15 draft.

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The match also saw Melbourne Renegades’ debutant Mohammad Rizwan struggle to make an impact.

The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter managed only four runs, adding to the growing list of underwhelming first appearances by Pakistani players in this year’s tournament.

Rizwan and Shaheen’s tough nights followed a similar fate for Babar Azam, who endured a quiet BBL debut on Sunday.

Representing Sydney Sixers against Perth Scorchers in the tournament opener, the Pakistan batting star was dismissed for just two runs off five balls.

READ: Mohammad Rizwan dismissed cheaply on Big Bash debut

Pakistan ace pacer Shaheen Afridi lavished praise on Australia speedster and his role model Mitchell Starc ahead of the much-anticipated debut in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Shaheen, who will represent Brisbane Heat in Australia’s premier T20 competition, spoke about his early memory of watching Starc bowl in the 2015 World Cup.

“He’s a legend,” Afridi said.  “When ‘Starcy’ played that 2015 World Cup, I was playing for the Under 16 Pakistan team at that time, so…I followed him to try to bowl many times the way he swung the ball,” he recalled.

“He bowled a fuller ball throughout that World Cup and had very good success.”

He also talked about his chat with Mitchell Starc while calling him an idol for youngsters.

“The last time we chatted, I told him that I watched him (in 2015) … and that’s why I bowl fuller to batters,” Afridi continued.

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“I can say he’s a role model for any youngster… he’s been the best for Australia for many years,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that Mitchell Starc (420) recently surpassed former Pakistan great Wasim Akram’s (41`4) tally of most wickets as a left-arm pacer. The 35-year-old Starc reached the landmark during the second Ashes Test.

For the unversed, several Pakistani players were hot picks in the BBL 15 draft held earlier.

The tournament, running from December 14 to January 25, 2026, will feature 44 matches. Notably, most of the tournament’s fixtures will be played primarily in prime-time evening slots.

Alongside Babar and Shaheen, several other Pakistan internationals will feature this season: Mohammad Rizwan and Hassan Khan will line up for Melbourne Renegades, Haris Rauf has signed with Melbourne Stars, Shadab Khan with Sydney Thunder, and Hasan Ali with Adelaide Strikers.

READ: ICC announces ticket sales for Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

CUTTACK: India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah on Tuesday achieved a unique milestone during the first T20I against South Africa as he joined Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi in the 100-wickets club across all formats in international cricket.

Ahead of the first T20I, Bumrah stood at 99 T20I wickets in 80 matches.

The right-hander hit the landmark after scalping Dewald Brevis in the 10th over of the innings.

With this, the 30-year-old joined Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi, Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga, New Zealand’s Tim Southee, and Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan.

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Notably, he is the first Indian to take 100 wickets in all formats— T20I, ODI, and Tests.

India’s highest wicket-takers in T20Is:

Arshdeep Singh – 107 wickets
Jasprit Bumrah – 101 wickets
Hardik Pandya – 99 wickets
Yuzvendra Chahal – 96 wickets
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 90 wickets

Overall, Bumrah has taken 234 wickets in 52 Tests, 149 in 89 ODIs, and 101 in 81 T20Is. Currently, Arshdeep Singh is leading the wickets chart for India in T20Is with 107 wickets to his name.

Bowlers To Take 100 Wickets in Each Format

Tim Southee: 391 Tests, 221 ODIs, 164 T20Is

Lasith Malinga: 101 Tests, 338 ODIs, 107 T20Is

Shaheen Afridi: 121 Tests, 135 ODIs, 126 T20Is

Shakib Al Hasan: 246 Tests, 317 ODIs, 149 T20Is

Jasprit Bumrah: 234 Tests, 149 ODIs, 101 T20Is

Nonetheless, India crushed South Africa by 101 runs in the T20I series opener played here at the Barabati Stadium.

Set 176 under lights, South Africa’s explosive batting line was skittled for 74 in only 12.3 overs, thanks to a clinical bowling display from the Men in Blue.

Hardik Pandya delivered an all-round performance on his return to the side. The ace all-rounder first propelled his side to a winning score with an unbeaten 58* from 29 balls.

Later on, he also chipped in the ball and picked up a wicket, completing the rout of the visitors, which also slumped them to their record lowest total in the limited overs format.

READ: Pandya stars as India rout South Africa in T20I series opener

Pakistan’s ace duo Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi arrived in Australia for the upcoming 15th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL).

The highly anticipated edition of Australia’s premier T20 competition will begin on December 14.

The star players’ arrival was confirmed via their respective outfits’ Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers social media handles.

 

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“The number one draft pick has landed. Welcome to Brisbane, @iShaheenAfridi,” the Brisbane Heat wrote in its social media caption.

For those unaware, Shaheen was picked by the Brisbane Heat as their No.1 draft pick, while Babar was signed by the Sydney Sixers.

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Meanwhile, the Sixers released a short teaser video of the star batter walking into the dressing room, simply captioned: “He’s arrived.”

 

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It is worth mentioning that this year, several Pakistani players remained hot picks in the BBL 15 auction held earlier.

The tournament, running from December 14 to January 25, 2026, will feature 44 matches. Notably, most of the tournament’s fixtures will be played primarily in prime-time evening slots.

Alongside Babar and Shaheen, several other Pakistan internationals will feature this season: Mohammad Rizwan and Hassan Khan will line up for Melbourne Renegades, Haris Rauf has signed with Melbourne Stars, Shadab Khan with Sydney Thunder, and Hasan Ali with Adelaide Strikers.

The BBL 15 has confirmed that the finals will retain the traditional four-match format, with the Qualifier scheduled for January 20 and the final to be played on January 25.

READ: Can Virat Kohli reach 100 international centuries?

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan were dealt a worrying blow on Thursday after star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up a minor foot fascial injury ahead of their T20I tri-series fixture against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

In a brief statement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Shaheen is under the supervision of the medical team following the injury, with his participation in today’s match hanging in the balance.

“Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi is currently under observation with the medical team after sustaining a minor foot fascial injury,” the PCB said.

“His condition is being closely monitored, and any decision regarding his availability will depend on his improvement and subsequent clearance from the medical team.”

With Shaheen unlikely to feature, Pakistan face a significant setback heading into a crucial contest, especially with the left-armer being a central figure in their T20I setup.

The squad, however, still carries pace options in Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah and Salman Mirza, while Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed provide spin cover.

Pakistan opened their tri-series campaign on a positive note, defeating Zimbabwe by five wickets earlier this week after successfully chasing a 148-run target in 19.2 overs.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, stunned Sri Lanka in the following match, adding further intrigue to the points table.

Pakistan Squad for T20I Tri-Series

Salman Ali Agha (c), Hassan Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq.

READ: South Africa 247-6 after Kuldeep takes three in second India Test

Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Afridi has finally addressed the ongoing debate around the limited game time of Mohammad Wasim Jr.

Afridi offered clarity on why the young pacer has featured sporadically in white-ball cricket despite remaining part of the squad.

Wasim Jr, long viewed as one of Pakistan’s brightest fast-bowling prospects, has 41 wickets in 25 ODIs and remains highly rated for his pace and ability to move the ball.

Yet over the past year, his limited appearances have sparked widespread discussion among fans and critics.

He played just one match in the recent South Africa ODI series and two against Sri Lanka, picking up a combined five wickets.

Before that, he made only two ODI appearances on Pakistan’s New Zealand tour in April, and has not featured in T20Is since January 2024.

Speaking after Pakistan’s ODI series win over Sri Lanka, Shaheen Afridi revealed that Wasim Jr’s irregular run was not a reflection of his ability, but of his physical condition.

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“I think he was being rotated, but perhaps you people weren’t aware,” Shaheen said at the post-match press conference. “Wasim Junior had a few injuries, and you usually give players opportunities based on those injuries.”

Shaheen explained that while Mohammad Wasim Jr. remained with the squad, he was not always fully fit to play consecutive matches.

“If a player is travelling with the team but not fully fit, like Wasim Junior was with the team, but he was carrying several injuries, then the team management naturally keeps rotating him,” he added.

The captain also stressed the importance of proper rehabilitation for bowlers, noting that fast bowling demands careful workload management.

“When you are with the team, you still need some treatment and care,” he said. “Now that he has made a comeback in the ODIs, he has shown that he has the skill; he can reverse swing the ball very well.”

Shaheen concluded by reaffirming the value Wasim Jr brings when healthy, placing him firmly among Pakistan’s current crop of match-winning quicks.

“All the bowlers in the pool right now are game-changers, and they are playing good cricket throughout,” he added.

READ: Daryl Mitchell in doubt for remainder of West Indies ODI series

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Afridi was absent from the playing XI for Friday’s second ODI against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Fans were left surprised when T20I captain Salman Ali Agha came out to take part in the toss.

Salman clarified that Shaheen has been ruled out due to illness, while Faheem Ashraf is also unavailable for the match.

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Spinner Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Wasim Jr have been drafted into the side in their place.

“Shaheen [Afridi] is unwell, and Faheem [Ashraf] also misses out. Abrar Ahmed and [Mohammad] Wasim Jr come in,” Agha confirmed at the toss.

Shaheen was appointed Pakistan’s 50-over captain on October 20, replacing Mohammad Rizwan ahead of the three-match ODI series against South Africa.

Catch Pakistan vs Sri Lanka news updates here!

He successfully led the team to a 2-1 series win over the Proteas in his first assignment as skipper.

Rizwan had captained Pakistan in 20 ODIs, securing nine wins and 11 losses, with a winning percentage of 45.

The wicket-keeper was appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain in October 2024 ahead of tours to Australia and Zimbabwe.

READ: Mahmudul Hasan Joy stars as Bangladesh thrash Ireland in first Test

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Afridi opened up on the exclusion of middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz from the white-ball squads.

A day earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released the 23-year-old from the ODI squad for the series against Sri Lanka and the T20I tri-series team.

“Hasan has been released to participate in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy – the country’s premier first-class tournament. The seventh round of the competition commences from 11 November,” the statement said.

“Left-handed batter Fakhar Zaman will replace Hasan in the T20I squad, while no player will be added to the ODI squad as Hasan’s replacement,” it added.

Hasan made headlines after scoring a record ton in a T20I against New Zealand earlier this year. However, after playing a vital role with the bat for the national side in numerous games, his form dipped, eventually resulting in his release from the squad.

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Speaking to the reporters ahead of the first ODI against Sri Lanka, Shaheen congratulated Nawaz on the arrival of his baby boy, noting that he could not spend time with his family due to national commitment.

“First of all, congratulations to Hasan Nawaz. He was blessed with a baby boy when we were in Rawalpindi for the match against South Africa, but he could not spend time with his family and was with the team,” said Shaheen.

The skipper also pointed out that Hasan is facing competition from others due to his batting spot and expressed the belief that his game will improve after participating in domestic cricket.

“Secondly, the number at which Hasan is playing currently, he faces competition from a lot of batters, so when he plays domestic cricket, he will improve,” he maintained

“And Hasan Nawaz’s exclusion does not mean that he has completely vanished from the team. He is the future of Pakistan,” the 25-year-old concluded.

READ: Key pacer ruled out as Zimbabwe announce squad for Pakistan tri-series

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s newly appointed ODI captain Shaheen Afridi hailed Mohammad Rizwan and spoke about their discussion before taking over the reins of the national side.

Shaheen replaced Rizwan as the captain of the 50-over side last month and led Pakistan to a 2-1 series triumph over South Africa.

Speaking on the eve of the ODI series opener against Sri Lanka, Shaheen talked about the discussion with the former skipper before taking the reins of the team.

“When I was captain earlier, I had spoken to Babar at that time about the whole situation. I won’t go into details about being removed, but when I was offered the captaincy again, Rizwan was the first person I spoke to. I asked him how he felt about it and what he thought,” he revealed in a press conference.

He lavished praise on Rizwan and stated that the wicket-keeper himself decided to step down from the role.

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“Rizwan is a great person — he himself decided to step back. So yes, we discussed it before the final decision was made,” Shaheen told reporters.

Regarding ace batter Babar Azam’s form, Shaheen expressed confidence in the right-hander to shine against Sri Lanka, despite being unable to notch up a century in international cricket since 2023.

“Babar is not the kind of player who can be judged by one or two innings. He’s already finding his rhythm again, and Insha’Allah, I’m confident he’ll score a hundred very soon,” he explained.

“I don’t think playing in front of a home crowd adds pressure. In fact, when your own people cheer for you, it gives you confidence. Playing at home, in familiar conditions, with fans backing you — that’s the best feeling,” he concluded.

The first ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will begin tomorrow at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The second and third matches of the series will be played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on November 13 and 15.

READ: Trophy unveiled for Pakistan-Sri Lanka ODI series

FAISALABAD: Pakistan skipper Shaheen Afridi lamented his side’s poor fielding and vowed to bounce back stronger in the series decider, scheduled to be played on Saturday.

South Africa chased down the 270-run target with ease in 40.1 overs, with Quinton De Kock and Tony de Zorzi starring for the Proteas.

Both left-handers batted briskly and threw Pakistan out of the game with an imperious 152-run partnership.

De Kock, in particular, returning to the ODI team nearly after two years, hit an unbeaten 123* off 119, studded with seven maximums.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, skipper Shaheen praised Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha for taking the team out of trouble.

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Pakistan were not only outplayed in bowling, but also in batting. The visitors had inflicted a poor start on them, reducing the hosts to 22-3 inside the first five overs. It was the 92-run partnership between Saim and Salman that launched the recovery for the home side.

“I think Saim and Agha did really well, and their partnership helped us. Firstly, losing three wickets, we thought 270 was a good score, but dropped catches cost us. We will come back strongly,” he said.

READ: De Kock’s 123* hands Pakistan a drubbing in second ODI