Name Hindi: शाहीन शाह अफरीदी / Gender Man
About Shaheen Shah Afridi
Born on April 6, 2000 in Khyber Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi is a well-known international cricket player who represents his home country. He belongs to the prestigious Afridi tribe of Pashtuns, renowned for their deep-rooted culture and prowess in sports. Despite being so young, he’s already established himself as one of the bright stars in the field of cricket.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Being born into an athletic family where his elder brothers Riaz Afridi and Yasir Afridi were also professional cricketers, it was no surprise when Shaheen developed an interest in the sport at a tender age.
- Riaz Afridi played Test Cricket for Pakistan,
- Whereas Yasir Afridi has performed at first-class level.
He initially began playing tape-ball cricket like most Pakistani kids do but soon graduated to hard-ball cricket upon realising his potential.
The Debut
Afridi made his List A debut for Khan Research Laboratories during the 2017–18 Departmental One Day Cup on 9 January 2018. But before this, he spent some time playing domestically for FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) where he stood out with impressive performances against notable teams.
In March 2018, he made his Test debut for Pakistan against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi.
Achievements And Remarkable Performances
- In just his second One Day International (ODI) match, Afridi took a six-wicket haul which makes it the best figures by any Pakistani bowler in an ODI.
- He has so far represented Pakistan in all three cricket formats – Tests, ODIs and T20s.
- Shaheen is the youngest ever fast bowler to take 100 wickets in T20 cricket.
- In March 2021, he became the fastest bowler for Pakistan, in terms of matches, to take 50 wickets in ODIs. He achieved this feat during his first innings against South Africa at SuperSport Park, Centurion
Playing Style
A left-arm fast bowler, Shaheen’s height gives him extra edge over other bowlers as he gets additional bounce from even not-so-lively pitches. His upright action help him swing the new ball while with old ball he can execute reverse swing effectively. Rated highly for his accuracy and intelligence on field, undoubtedly Shaheen possesses a blend of great skills that make him special among today’s crop of fast-bowlers.
The Future Prospect
With plenty of early success under his belt, Shaheen Shah Afridi has established himself among the premier pace bowling options available within the country. Continuing to sharpen his game skills coupled with maintaining a disciplined fitness regime may see him emerging as one of the finest cricketers of his generation not just in Pakistan but on global level also.
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