Shahid Afridi is not only a cricket legend but also a role model for future cricketers, with outstanding tenacity, great sportsmanship and unwavering passion.
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About Shahid Afridi
Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi, known as Shahid Afridi is a Pakistani former cricketer who used to captain the Pakistan national cricket team. Called “Boom Boom Afridi”, he dominated the ground with his outstanding performance as an All-rounder, with right-handed leg spinner and batsman.
Shahid Afridi was born in Khyber Agency, to an Afridi tribe of Pashtuns in 1977, Pakistan. He has 6 brothers, 2 of them are Tariq Afridi and Ashfaq Afridi, a Pakistani cricketers. From early ages, Shahid Afridi was inspired by his uncle’s story about Imran Khan’s captaincy throughout the 1992 World Cup, the Cricket season taught him to never afraid of failure. Shahid Afridi said he is extremely grateful his uncle for introduced him to sports in general and cricket in particular.
He started playing street cricket and soon caught the eye of talent scouts. His exceptional skills and aggressive playing style made him stand out from the crowd, and he quickly rose through the ranks.
Domestic career
Shahid Afridi was drafted to the Pakistan senior team circuit starting the 1994–95 season after his great performances at the U19 championship. His first team is Karachi Whites and with him in the squad, the team won the title in the following season. His name has been notice and he was signed for many different teams after that.
Shahid was signed by Deccan Chargers and played in the inaugural season of IPL. Unfortunately he did not play in the 2nd edition due to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
He launched his own T10 League called the Mega Stars League.
Pakistan Super League
Shahid Afridi was captain of Peshawar Zalmi in the 2016 IPL and was their icon player. He was made his team won the title. Afridi stepped down and gave the captaincy to Daren Sammy before the 2017 PSL, their team still won the title this season.
Shahid Afridi join Karachi Kings for 2018 season, and help them get the title of 2018 PSL. But still, they don’t remain him for the 2019 season.
He was chosen by Multan Sultans in the platinum category, they keep retained him as a mentor in 2020 PSL draft and 2021 season, but he miss the remained of the tournament due to a back injury.
Shahid Afridi played for Quetta Gladiators in the 2022 PSL and announced this would be his last PSL season. But then he must withdrew mid-season because of back problem.
Another Leagues
In his entire career, Shahid Afridi was played for many Cricket team in several nation. He was play for England cricket team, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Canada and many other nation.
International career
1996-2010
Shahid Afridi made his debut in the ODI team in 1996 and broke the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket.
He made his Test debut in 1998 and scored his maiden Test century in the third Test against Australia.
He was banned for damaging the pitch in the second Test against England in 2005 and later retired from Test cricket to focus on ODIs.
In 2005, Shahid scored a quick-fire second-innings half-century and took five wickets in the match.
In 2006, Shahid Afridi struck the equal second-fastest century in ODIs and was more consistent with his batting and bowling.
In 2007, he was suspended for three Test matches and two ODIs for breaching the ICC code of conduct. However, Shahid Afridi became the first person to win the Player of the Tournament award in T20 World Cup history.
In T20 World Cup 2008, he led his team, Pakistan national cricket team to won the title.
After won the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, Shahid Afridi take over the captain after Younis Khan retire. He was voted as the Best ODI Bowling Performance of 2009 by ESPNcricinfo.
In March 2010, he finish the League as the Tournament highest runscorer with 265 runs from 3 matches. On 25 May 2010, Shahid Afridi was appointed captain of the nation team in all three format after announced return to Test cricket. But then Shahid Afridi retire Test again citing lack of temperament as the reason. After the spot-fixing scandal of some player in Test squad, he announced he might return if “the team need it”.
In the tour to New Zealand 2010-2011, Shahid Afridi became The first cricketer to reach 50 international wickets in the format and The first cricketer to have completed the double of 500 runs and 50 wickets in the T20 internationals. He also led Pakistan to winning the series.
2011-2015
He led Pakistan national cricket team in 2011 World Cup and was the tournament’s joint-leading wicket-taker with 21 wickets.
After tour to West Indies, PCB replaced Afridi as ODI captain with Misbah-ul-Haq.
On 30 May 2011, Shahid announced his conditional retirement from international cricket to protest the PCB treatment for him and comeback when Ijaz Butt was replaced as PCB chairman.
In November 2011, Shahid Afridi became the only cricketer to score a half-century and take five wickets on two separate occasions in ODIs, also become the first person to play 50 T20Is.
In 2013, in the first ODI against West Indies in Guyana, Shahid Afridi scored 76 off 55 before reaching figures of 7/12, the second best ever in ODI bowling.
In 2014, he played for the Rest of the World team in the 200th Anniversary match at Lord’s.
Shahid Afridi announced his retirement from ODI cricket after the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Retirement
After the announced of PCB wanted Shahid Afridi to retire in 2016, he was officially announced his retire in 2017. He still played in the Rest of the World XI squad for the Relief T20 Challenge and went on to captain side after Eoin Morgan’s injury. After the match, Shahid Afridi said he would not making any comeback to international cricket for Pakistan.
On 24 December 2022, Shahid Afridi was named the interim chief selector of the Pakistani cricket team by the newly appointed PCB Chairman, Najam Sethi and refused to had a longer term.
Conclusion
Shahid Afridi, fondly known as “Boom Boom Afridi,” has left an indelible mark on the world of cricket with his exceptional performances and unmatched talent. As a former captain of the Pakistan national cricket team, Shahid Afridi’s career is filled with countless achievements and memorable moments that have solidified his status as a living legend in the cricketing world.
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