Shaheen Shah Afridi’s disappointing performance in the 2023 World Cup match between Pakistan and New Zealand marked a low point in the young fast bowler’s career. The left-arm pacer endured a day he would rather forget as he conceded 90 runs in his ten overs, setting an unfortunate record for Pakistan’s most expensive spell in the history of the World Cup. This unenviable record surpassed Haris Rauf’s performance in the same match when he conceded 85 runs in his quota of ten overs. Previously, Hasan Ali held the record for the most runs conceded by a Pakistani bowler in a World Cup match, with 84 runs against India in the 2019 World Cup. Shaheen Afridi has gone wicketless for the first time in 24 ODIs.
Not a good day for young Shaheen
During this match, Shaheen Shah Afridi was hammered for 11 fours and two sixes by the New Zealand batsmen, making it a challenging day for him on the field. It was undoubtedly one of the most challenging outings in his cricket career, a day he would wish to put behind him.
However, it’s important to remember that Shaheen Shah Afridi had seen success leading up to this challenging performance. In a recent match against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, he became the fastest pacer to reach 100 wickets in ODIs, outpacing Mitchell Starc’s previous record. He reached this milestone by dismissing Tanzid Hasan Tamim in his very first over of the match. In the same game, he also dismissed Mahmudullah Riyad in a manner reminiscent of Wasim Akram’s dismissal of Allan Lamb in the 1992 World Cup. Following these impressive performances, he climbed seven places in the rankings to become the No. 1 ODI bowler in the world.
In the 2023 World Cup, Shaheen Shah Afridi had a commendable performance overall. He secured 16 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 5.76, including a notable five-wicket haul against Australia. While the match against New Zealand may have been a challenging one, his overall contributions in the tournament demonstrated his potential and skill as a fast bowler. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s journey in international cricket is far from over, and he remains a key player for Pakistan in the years to come.
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