Shaheen Shah Afridi has made a name for himself as one of the deadliest new ball bowlers in world cricket in all three formats of the game. His heroics at the beginning of the innings and his ability to deceive the batters in the first over of the game are well known all over the world.
The 22-year old fast bowler struck in the very first over of the innings in the second and third ODI against Australia.
Shaheen was on point in the second ODI as he dismissed Aaron Finch who was unable to deal with Shaheen’s swinging full-toss.
He repeated the feat in the next match as he dismissed an in-form Travis Head with a similar delivery, an in-swinging low full-toss.
Pakistan team members gave an insight into how he is able to perform with the new ball every time he steps onto the pitch. Pakistan captain, Babar Azam along with fellow teammate Mohammad Rizwan and coaches, Saqlain Mushtaq and Shaun Tait, talked about Shaheen’s new ball prowess:
Pakistan captain Babar Azam said:
“Shaheen’s ability to take wickets in the very first over is due to his ability to swing the ball from a perfect length consistently. Shaheen has perfected the art of the inswinging yorker at the start of the innings and he is able to pull it off due to his natural talent.”
Pakistan Test vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan shared a hilarious story about his interaction with Australia’s middle-order batter, Marnus Labuschagne:
“Marnus asked me to reveal the secret behind Shaheen’s decision to bowl a full toss in the first over and whether he bowls it deliberately or not to which I refused to answer.”
Pakistan bowling coach Shaun Tait said:
“Shaheen has great confidence in his own ability to bowl at a consistent line and pace. No batter in the world would like to face Shaheen in the first over of the innings.
Headcoach Saqlain Mushtaq too praised Shaheen for his ability to take wickets in the first over and his ability to do it consistently for his country.
Leave a Reply