Feb 13, 2006 06:25 PM
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(Updated Feb 13, 2006 06:28 PM)
A highly capable leg spin bowler who can quickly turn the result of a match. Yes!! I m talking about Shahid Afridi the most unpredictable player of the Pakistani team. His googly (bosie), can be very hard for the batsman to pick and even more difficult to play. An allrounder who was brought into international cricket as a 16-year-old legspinner and surprised everyone but himself by pinch-hitting the fastest one-day hundred in his maiden innings against Srilanka
His Amazing Debut:
Technically it was his second ODI but still..... The year is 1996. Pakistan, the most unpredictable side in the cricket world, were facing new world champions Sri Lanka in a 4 nation tournament in NAIROBI, KENYA around September/October time. As the side were already depleted due to injury and illness of the established players, a 16 year old S. Afridi was given SOS from the board back home when he was in the West Indies on tour with the U19 squad. Little was known about this Pathan from the Khyber Pass area but he was supposed to be a leg spinner. In the match against Sri Lanka, Pakistan needed to increase their Net Run Rate in order to remain in the series. Surprisingly, Afridi was sent in at number 3 to bat instead of at number 10. This decision made him a phenomenon in the matter of one innings and he went straight into the record books. He hit a fabulous century in only 37 balls with the help of 11 sixes, 5 coming off the bowling of Sanath Jayasuriya. Afridi's heroics allowed Pakistan to enter into the finals and a new not to mention gorgeous star was born.
Often misses out on the recognition he deserves as a world class bowler. One thing he lacks is patience he doesn’t want to loose any delivery loves to meet the challenges of life without wasting too much time. Unlike the other batsman Afridi doesn’t know who to slow down he doesn’t like the idea of resting he wants to continue hitting 4’s and 6’s that’s what he enjoys the most he doesn’t believe wasting balls and his time. Often his hasty approach earns him the flak and people tend to write him off. Yet Afridi likes to prove people wrong. But It is said that he hits the ball with such a ferocity that “Even the best of the fielders with strong palms would think before laying hands on the ball”. With his aggressive style he brings a quick turn point in the game.
He is an excellent fielder too it is hard to make runs when Afridi is on the field. He is known as the king of sixes in whole world due to his powerful shots,.About 75% people comes in stadium for Afridi to enjoy his game.Shahid respects his brother very much.
His selling point is his voracious - almost naive - appetite for quick runs, coupled with excellent hand-eye co-ordination and an ability to improvise.
Of course, Afridi is too extreme for Test cricket, and even in the short game he is always just one delivery away from being dismissed.
Afridi is a very friendly and jovial person but is very shy. He owns a car showroom in Karachi and drives a Toyota Corola 98' model. He has a lot of friends in the Pakistani team whom he loves and trusts. He is deeply religious and is a God fearing person. He likes listening to music
I am a die-hard Indian supporter…… but nobody can beat Afridi
he rocks!!!!!!!!!!
As said by Michael Holding Cricket is not cricket without Shahid Afridithis is the best compliment he has ever received
