Tag: Shaheen Afridi

DUBAI: Pakistan left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi were involved in a heated exchange with India’s opener Abhishek Sharma during the Super Fours second match in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

The incident happened during the opening ball of India’s innings when Sharma tonked Afridi for a six.

After conceding a six, Shaheen exchanged words with Abhishek during his follow-through. In reply, the soutpaw said something to Shaheen that did not sit well with him.

Later on, speedster Haris Rauf was also seen saying a few words to Abhishek Sharma.

This happened in the last over of the powerplay when Gill crunched Haris for a four and called out the pacer immediately, while Sharma at the non-striker’s end joined the sledging.

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Haris Rauf faced the Indian openers, Sharma and Gill, prompting the on-field umpires to step in and defuse the situation.

Nonetheless, India cruised to a comprehensive win in the second last over on the loss of just four wickets. Tilak Varma made 30* not out off 19 balls, while Hardik Pandya remained unbeaten on seven.

Earlier, it was Abhishek Sharma’s onslaught that set the tone for India’s easy win. He, alongside Shubman Gill, made light work of the chase with a solid opening partnership of 105 runs.

Gill made 47 from 28 with the help of eight fours, while Sharma hit five sixes and six boundaries on his way to 74 from 39 balls.

READ: India outplay Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours

Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has advised Shaheen Shah Afridi to avoid predictability with the new ball during their Super Four clash against India in the ACC Asia Cup 2025.

Akram suggested that Afridi must be smarter with his lengths if he is to trouble Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill, who was recently dismissed by Omani pacer Shah Faisal with a late-swinging full delivery in India’s group-stage match at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

“That’s what I want Shaheen Afridi to do early on, because the whole world now knows the plan against him,” Akram said.

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“Everyone says, ‘Okay, he’ll be bowling yorkers first up.’ So Afridi needs to have a Plan B. I’m fine with one-off yorkers, but not two or three in a row, because if he misses even one, it goes for a boundary with only two fielders outside the circle. Mixing it up with length balls is better.”

He emphasised that while Afridi’s attacking intent is clear, varying his approach will give him a better chance of success against India’s top order.

Wasim Akram also raised concerns over Pakistan’s struggles against left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who proved decisive in the previous encounter between the arch-rivals.

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“It’s just the way he (Kuldeep) bowls. They can’t read him,” Akram said.

“In the pre-show, I was talking to Sunny bhai (Sunil Gavaskar), who said, ‘Unless you can read him from the hand, you won’t understand that type of bowling.’ When Pakistan’s batters keep sweeping against Kuldeep every second ball, it shows they are not reading him.”

Pakistan will be looking to bounce back after their seven-wicket defeat to India at the same venue last week, where Shaheen Afridi managed a useful cameo with the bat but went wicketless, conceding 23 runs in just two overs.

READ: Gavaskar slams Pakistan for skipping press conference ahead of India clash

Big Bash League (BBL) franchise Brisbane Heat has lauded Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi for his standout all-round performances in the ongoing ACC Asia Cup 2025.

Shaheen has made a strong impact with both bat and ball in recent outings. Against India, he smashed a quickfire 33 off just 16 deliveries, including four sixes, at a strike rate of 206.25. Although wicketless on that occasion, his cameo kept Pakistan in contention in what turned out to be a low-scoring defeat.

In Pakistan’s must-win clash against the UAE, he once again rose to the occasion. Coming in during a collapse, he struck 29 off 14 balls with three boundaries and two sixes, lifting Pakistan to 146/9 in 20 overs.

With the ball, he followed it up with a decisive spell of 2/16 in three overs, helping bowl UAE out for 105 and sealing Pakistan’s place in the Super Four.

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Impressed by his all-round display, Brisbane Heat took to social media to applaud their upcoming recruit, posting: “The Eagle! A true all-rounder performance on the big stage. #AsiaCup” alongside a photo of Shaheen.

Shaheen was the first overall pick in the BBL player draft on June 19 and will represent Brisbane Heat in the 15th edition of the tournament later this year.

The draft saw six of the eight franchises target Pakistan players, with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan snapped up third in the platinum category, while England’s Luke Wood went second.

This marks Shaheen’s maiden BBL stint, though he is no stranger to franchise cricket, having previously featured in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), ILT20, and The Hundred.

The 2025–26 BBL season will run from December 14 to January 25, 2026, featuring 44 matches.

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Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi has picked former South Africa batting maestro Hashim Amla over India’s talismanic batter Virat Kohli as the most difficult batter he has bowled to.

During an appearance on the Bricks to Riches podcast, Shaheen spoke about his cricketing career and his future goals.

On a question regarding the most difficult batter to bowl at, Shaheen stated about the stature of Amla as a batter, highlighting his skills.

“Hashim Amla,” he replied. “I’ve played test matches and ODIs against him, and he’s a tough competitor. I have also played a match against him in the Vitality Blast— a Twenty20 cricket tournament in England. I felt that he’s a very good batsman, and he is very good at what he does,” he added.

Is Hashim Amla more than Virat Kohli? The host questioned.

“Virat Kohli is a different player, but Hashim bhai [brother], he’s the toughest. Absolute toughest,” he remarked.

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Shaheen further commented on dismissing Virat Kohli and winning the match against India for the first time in a World Cup.

For context, Shaheen bowled a magical spell against India in the 2021 T20 World Cup, ripping through their top order with a fiery spell of 3 for 31 runs in his four overs.

With the help of his outstanding bowling, Pakistan eventually ended their winless run against arch-rivals India in the World Cups, defeating them by 10 wickets.

“When you get out a main player, your team gets a boost, right. That’s the main wicket you take. Pressure bills on the other team, but nothing in my mind ever. Nothing ever in my mind,” he recalled.

Shaheen Afridi is currently featuring in the T20I tri-series against Afghanistan and the hosts UAE.

The series serves as a vital preparation ground ahead of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, which is scheduled to start on September 9.

Pakistan will square off against India on September 14 in the marquee event.

READ: Abrar Ahmed enters elite list with career-best T20I spell

DUBAI: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has shared his views on the omission of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the national squad for the Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025.

Top-order batsman Babar Azam and former T20I captain Mohammad Rizwan’s last T20I appearance came in December 2024 against South Africa.

Since then, the pair has not been included in the team’s plans for the shorter format, amid criticism of their strike rates.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines during Pakistan’s preparatory camp ahead of the upcoming fixtures, Shaheen discussed the exclusion of the ace duo.

“Tomorrow I might not be playing either. It’s not necessary that I ask why I’m not playing. Everyone should get opportunities,” he said.

“Rizwan and Babar are world-class players and have played excellent cricket for Pakistan, and they will play in the future as well,” Shaheen remarked.

The left-arm pacer highlighted the opportunity for younger players, noting that they should not be criticized.

“Everyone gets an opportunity, and they should seize those chances. I think the more we support our youngsters, the better. We shouldn’t criticize them, saying, “They are new, they haven’t done anything yet.”

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Pakistan will play its arch-rivals, India, on September 14 in the Asia Cup 2025, and Shaheen Afridi has expressed confidence in the team’s preparation ahead of the marquee event.

“Yesterday we had our first practice session at night, and today we are practicing at the stadium. I think this preparation is going really well for the big matches before the Asia Cup, and this tri-nation series will help us,” Shaheen Afridi stated.

“Look, obviously plans and strategies are made in advance, but I think this preparation is earlier than Pakistan has ever done before,” he explained while replying to a question regarding the highly anticipated encounter.

Shaheen Afridi also shed light on the conditions and the upcoming tri-series against the UAE and Afghanistan.

“We have a good opportunity to use the stadium, get used to the conditions, and prepare well for the big matches. But our first target is the tri-nation series, and then comes the Asia Cup,” the 25-year-old said.

He also commented on the team’s unity and expressed pride in playing for Pakistan.

“I think unity is something people talk about from the outside. Inside the team, it’s not an issue. Just like in a family, small things happen, but they should stay within the family.

Our job is to play cricket and bring happiness to Pakistan. That’s what we are focused on. Outside matters are not in our control, and everyone has their own opinions which should be respected,” he concluded.

READ: Mehidy Hasan Miraz left out as Bangladesh name squad for Asia Cup 2025

DUBAI: Pakistan ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan and pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi have suffered a dip in the latest ICC Rankings released on Wednesday.

Vice-captain and all-rounder Salman Ali Agha climbed three places to 40th with 550 points in the batting charts.

Meanwhile, star batter Babar Azam reclaimed the No.2 spot after briefly losing it to India’s Rohit Sharma.

Rising opener Saim Ayub endured the heaviest fall, dropping 12 spots to 60th with 503 points.

Among other Pakistani batters, Mohammad Rizwan fell five places to 27th, Fakhar Zaman slipped one position to 28th, while Imam-ul-Haq, currently featuring for Yorkshire in the One-Day Cup, dropped three places to 42nd.

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India’s Shubman Gill continues to hold the No.1 batting spot, with New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell in third.

The ICC ODI Bowling Rankings brought more setbacks for Pakistan. Shaheen Afridi fell two spots to 15th, Haris Rauf dropped to 31st, while Naseem Shah slid to 51st.

Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Wasim Jr. also slipped three places each to 78th and 87th, respectively.

The only notable gain came from spinner Abrar Ahmed, who surged 18 places to 43rd with 502 points.

At the top, South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj became the new No.1 ODI bowler following his five-wicket haul against Australia, overtaking Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana and India’s Kuldeep Yadav.

READ: Aamir Jamal shares cryptic post after exclusion from central contract list

LAUDERHILL: Pakistan fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf opened up about their return to the national team after the 3-0 T20I series win against the West Indies here on Monday.

In a video shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the duo sat down with teammate Hasan Ali to reflect on their performances, fitness journeys, and the mental challenges of returning from injury.

Shaheen Afridi, who returned to the side after a period of rest, credited the break for helping him recalibrate.

“PSL went well for me, Alhamdulillah, and then I was given rest,” he shared.

“When you rest, your body tells you what it needs, so I focused on those areas and worked specifically on my bowling, and what further improvements I could make.”

The left-arm pacer explained the tactical approach adopted in the series.

“We knew the wickets would be on the slower side, so the plan was to bowl as many deliveries as possible on a consistent length,” he added.

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“As a bowling unit, we tried to stay disciplined. In such conditions, when you bowl with good length and smart variations, especially against a team like West Indies, it benefits the side.”

Meanwhile, Haris Rauf emphasized the importance of trusting his skills despite limited preparation time.

“Our plan was simple: to assess the conditions early and stick to the game plan,” he said.

“Coming back from injury and playing matches immediately isn’t easy because I had very little time to train. But as a professional, you have to believe in your skills.”

The speedster also shared that the experience of playing in the Major League Cricket (MLC) helped boost his confidence.

“I had a good season in MLC, which gave me confidence. But against the West Indies, bowling is never easy in any condition because their batters can change the game at any moment,” he stated.

READ: Salman Ali Agha explains why he did not bowl in West Indies T20Is

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday issued a statement regarding ace pacer Shaheen Afridi amid the West Indies tour.

The PCB addressed the reports attributed to pacer Shaheen Afridi’s rift with captain Salman Agha and deemed it “baseless, fabricated, and defamatory”.

“The PCB affirms that no such incident has occurred at any point during training or practice sessions.

These malicious rumours are entirely fictitious and appear to have been deliberately concocted with clear malafide intent to sow discord within the national squad,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.

The cricket board termed the rumours an attempt to undermine the cohesion, morale, and reputation of the Pakistan national team.

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According to the PCB, the rumours about a dispute between Shaheen Afridi and Salman Agha were aimed at damaging the professional integrity of the players and the team.

“The PCB will be initiating stringent legal proceedings, including but not limited to defamation and cybercrime charges, against the individuals and/or entities responsible for originating and disseminating this false narrative,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said.

“The PCB remains committed to protecting its players, staff, and the sanctity of the national team from unwarranted and harmful speculation,” it concluded.

It is worth noting here that Shaheen Afridi is part of Pakistan’s squad for the T20I and ODI series against the West Indies.

The T20I series is scheduled to begin on August 1 with the first game at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Florida.

The national side will then face the hosts on August 3 in the second game at the same venue, while the final game is scheduled for August 4.

READ: WCL owner breaks silence on India’s refusal to play Pakistan

The Caribbean great Ian Bishop made an interesting comparison between Pakistan’s premier left-arm pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Australia’s Mitchell Starc during the recently concluded third Test between Australia and the West Indies.

Bishop, speaking in commentary, referred to Shaheen as a “Baby Starc,” praising his knack for attacking the stumps in a style reminiscent of the Aussie spearhead, who had just ripped through the West Indies lineup with a blistering five-wicket haul in just 15 deliveries.

“It’s well known with Mitchell Starc and Shaheen Shah Afridi, at his best, watch and guard your stumps,” said Bishop, highlighting how both pacers pose a consistent threat with the new ball by targeting the base of the wickets.

The veteran broadcaster also paid homage to legends of the past, including Glenn McGrath, Curtly Ambrose, and Courtney Walsh, crediting their relentless accuracy and discipline for the havoc they caused across generations.

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“McGrath terrorised batters around the world by hitting that perfect length again and again. Ambrose and Walsh did it too, and now you see Josh Hazlewood following that method,” Ian Bishop added.

“But then there’s Shaheen Afridi, the rising star. I thought he was baby Starc at his fittest. A different style, but the same intent.”

Shaheen has built an impressive resume since making his international debut against the West Indies in 2018.

Across formats, the left-armer has already claimed 345 international wickets, including seven five-fors, and continues to be a central figure in Pakistan’s bowling attack.

His standout 2021 campaign earned him the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award, with his match-winning spells in the T20 World Cup that year.

READ: Pakistan T20I squad departs for Bangladesh in two groups

The eagerly awaited Big Bash League (BBL) 15 fixtures have been announced, featuring Pakistan’s star trio Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan.

BBL 15 is set to commence from December 14 to January 25, 2026, with a total of 44 games played across various venues in Australia. The highlight of this year’s edition is Pakistan’s ace players who are set to make their debut.

Babar Azam Debut 

One of the most notable aspects of BBL 15 will be the debut of Pakistan’s ace batter, Babar Azam, who will be playing for the Sydney Sixers in the opening match of the tournament.

 

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The season opener will be played between the two most successful teams of the tournament, the Sydney Sixers and the Perth Scorchers, on December 14 at Optus Stadium in Perth.

Renegades vs Heat clash ft Rizwan, Shaheen

The Melbourne Renegades will kick off their BBL 15 campaign against Brisbane Heat on December 15, with Pakistan’s pacer Shaheen Afridi and wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan making their tournament debuts.

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The Melbourne Renegades will begin their tournament with two home matches at Geelong

Australia Test Players Return After Ashes

With the much-anticipated Ashes series concluding on January 8, several Australian Test players may return to action, depending on their availability.

Those players currently part of the Test squad and having BBL contracts include Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Beau Webster, Josh Inglis, Steve Smith, and Scott Boland.

The BBL franchises are permitted to select a maximum of two Cricket Australia-contracted players for the supplementary list, subject to their availability.

Derbies And Rivalries

The BBL 15 fixtures are packed with exciting rivalries, starting with a rematch of last year’s final between the Sydney Thunder and the Hobart Hurricanes on December 16.

The Melbourne derbies, featuring the Renegades and Stars, will take place on January 4 and 10 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Marvel Stadium, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Sydney Smash, a high-stakes encounter between Thunder and Sixers, is scheduled to take place on December 20 at the ENGIE Stadium, with the second fixture set for January 16 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

READ: Pakistan Champions unveil new jersey for WCL 2025