Profile of Shahid Afridi
Full Name: Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi
Born: March 1, 1980 in Khyber Agency, Pakistan
Batting Style Right-handed batsman
Bowling Style Right-arm medium, Legbreak googly
Test Debut Australia vs. Pakistan at Karachi – October 22-26, 1998
ODI Debut Kenya vs. Pakistan at Nairobi – October 2, 1996
Flamboyance and Shahid Khan Afridi go hand in hand. One of the most aggressive and exuberant cricketer to have graced Pakistan cricket, Shahid Afridi has changed the definition of batsmanship. For him, batting means to entertain audiences. And, he has duly lived up to his definition by delighting spectators with his incredulous shot-making.
From a player who scored the fastest century on debut, Shahid Afridi has not changed much. He surprised cricketing fraternity by scoring his maiden ton in just 37 balls, at the age of 16. His strokeplay and shot selection might not be in accordance with cricket manuals; nonetheless, he enraptures crowds like none other.
Unfortunately, Shahid Afridi’s flamboyance soon became his undoing. Due to his erratic batting, he was long considered unfit for Test cricket. In due course, this trait, and his obduracy at not changing it, even cost him his place in the Pakistan national side. However, after a brief hiatus, Shahid Afridi bounced back with a bang. This time, he displayed maturity and self-control, prompting the selectors to consider him in both versions of the game.
His leg-spin bowling has been an asset for the Pakistan team. He has surprised many of the world’s topmost batsmen with his legbreak googlies.
Apart from his on-field histrionics, Shahid Afridi has been surrounded by controversies off it as well. Sex scandal, misbehavior, match fixing, et al… he has always been in the limelight. Despite all this, Shahid Afridi continues to be loved as a cricketer. He is a favorite with girls, mainly because of his attractive hairstyle, handsomeness and belligerence.
For the record, Shahid Afridi has scored about 5,369 runs in 253 One-day matches. He has also claimed 217 wickets at an average of 36. His strike rate of 110.95 is the best in international cricket.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2007
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