Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Afridi is a very interesting and unique cricketer. He started playing at just 16 years old in 1996 and quickly became a favorite among Pakistan fans. Even though he faced many controversies, Afridi worked hard to secure his place in the team. Now, at 33, he is still a major attraction for Pakistan cricket fans worldwide.
Afridi has been very successful with both the bat and ball. He began as a leg-spinner, filling in for the injured Mushtaq Ahmed.
Here are some of the best moments from his career:
1. 102 runs off 40 balls and 1/43 in 10 overs (Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Nairobi, October 1996)
This innings made the young man famous right away. He came to bat after Saleem Elahi was out with the score at 60. Shahid Afridi then played an amazing innings, hitting the Sri Lankan bowlers all over the field.
He was especially tough on all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya, who could only watch as the teenager hit him for 28 runs in one over. Afridi’s attack was so strong that Jayasuriya and famous spinner Muttiah Muralitharan gave up 167 runs together, even though they took five wickets. Jayasuriya’s 3/94 became one of the most expensive bowling figures in ODI history.
Overall, Afridi hit six fours and a then-record eleven sixes, helping Pakistan reach a huge total of 371/9. Afridi scored his hundred in just 37 balls, a record that still stands. This was his first ODI innings; he had made his debut in the previous game against Kenya, where he didn’t bat and didn’t take any wickets.
Afridi also took the wicket of Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who scored 52. It was an outstanding performance from the young player!
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2. 108 not out off 92 balls (Pakistan vs New Zealand, Sharjah, April 2002)
After Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq dismissed the New Zealand team for just 213 runs, Pakistan’s openers started strong in their reply. Afridi, though usually aggressive, played a calmer innings this time. However, he still managed to hit eight sixes and seven fours in a smart attack on the New Zealand bowlers, especially Scott Styris and leg-spinner Brooke Walker.
In the two overs bowled by Styris, Afridi hit four sixes effortlessly. He scored his third ODI century and finished the game with a lofted boundary, giving Pakistan an 8-wicket win with almost 18 overs left.
This performance showed that Afridi could score runs by taking singles too, not just by power-hitting.
3. 6/38 in 10 overs and 24 runs off 16 balls (Pakistan vs Australia, Dubai, April 2009)
One of Shahid Afridi’s best all-round performances was in the victory over Australia, which gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Using his main delivery, the leg-break, along with slower balls and a faster one, Afridi took six Australian wickets easily.
He started by having Brad Haddin caught by Younis Khan for 40 runs, then bowled Shane Watson with a leg-break, also for 40 runs. Afridi’s mix of slower and faster balls got Andrew Symonds and Callum Ferguson out, then he bowled Nathan Bracken and Stuart Clark to complete his six-wicket haul.
Afridi then hit five fours in 15 balls before being dismissed by Ben Hilfenhaus. However, his quick scoring had already set the stage for Pakistan’s win.
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4. 102 runs off 45 balls (Pakistan vs India, Kanpur, April 2005)
It seems like April is Shahid Afridi’s favorite month to perform exceptionally well against his opponents. India learned this the hard way in the 2005 home series against Pakistan.
In the fifth ODI, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan tore through India’s strong batting lineup, limiting them to 249 runs. Then, Afridi unleashed a flurry of shots, hitting ten fours and nine sixes, to score his fourth ODI century.
He punished all the bowlers, especially seamer Lakshmipathy Balaji and spinners Anil Kumble and Dinesh Mongia. His 45-ball hundred is the joint second-fastest in ODI history, tied with Brian Lara. Afridi’s explosive innings included a 131-run partnership for the first wicket with Salman Butt, helping Pakistan win the game and lead the series 3-2. It was a powerful performance from the 25-year-old all-rounder!
5. 76 runs off 55 balls and 7/12 (Pakistan vs West Indies, Guyana, July 2013)
This performance is just as impressive as Afridi’s amazing debut century in ODI cricket 17 years ago. With fast bowler Jason Holder delivering a fiery spell of 8 overs, 4 maidens, 8 runs, and 4 wickets, Pakistan was struggling at 47/5. Afridi then entered and changed the game with his powerful and fearless hitting, shocking the home team.
Afridi’s aggressive innings included six fours and five huge sixes. He forced Sunil Narine out of the attack and then went after Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, and Marlon Samuels. Thanks to Afridi, Pakistan recovered and posted 224/9 in their 50 overs.
After Mohammad Irfan’s fierce opening spell and a brilliant run-out by captain Misbah-ul-Haq left the West Indies at 7/3, Afridi delivered his best-ever bowling performance. His mix of leg-breaks, sliders, slower balls, and occasional off-breaks completely destroyed the batting lineup, with the hosts collapsing for just 98 runs in 41 overs.
Unpredictable, flashy, and very effective, Shahid Afridi still has a lot of cricket left in him. The cricket world will always be excited to watch Boom Boom!
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