Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen Shah Afridi is Pakistan's premier fast bowler and one of the most feared left-arm quicks in world cricket. Born on 6 April 2000 in Khyber Agency, he rose rapidly through the ranks, making his Test debut in 2018 at just 18 years old.

Career

Shaheen took the cricket world by storm with his pace, swing and devastating yorkers. He was the leading wicket-taker in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where his spell of 3-31 in the semi-final against Australia announced him as a superstar. He became the youngest Pakistani to reach 100 Test wickets and was named the ICC Men's Emerging Cricketer of the Year in 2021.

He has been a cornerstone of Pakistan's attack across all formats, including the team's run to the 2022 T20 World Cup final and the 2023 Asia Cup. In late 2023 he was briefly appointed Pakistan's T20 captain, and he remains the leader of the pace attack. His career has been punctuated by injury setbacks, including a knee injury before the 2023 World Cup, from which he returned strongly.

Legacy

Shaheen Afridi is regarded as the most exciting fast-bowling talent of his generation, and his battle with the world's best batsmen — particularly Virat Kohli — has made him a global star. He continues to lead Pakistan's bowling across formats.