Shaheen Shah Afridi, born on April 6, 2000, is a prominent Pakistani cricketer. He serves as the captain of the Pakistan national cricket team in the T20I format and leads the Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. Afridi’s captaincy led the Lahore Qalandars to their maiden PSL title in the 2022 season, and they repeated the feat by securing the 2023 title, marking the first instance of a team successfully defending their PSL title. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being the first Pakistani to clinch the prestigious Garfield Sobers trophy.
Shaheen Shah Afridi PSL Records & Stats
In Shaheen Shah Afridi’s PSL career spanning 62 matches, he has been consistent in both innings, with 33 appearances batting first and 29 batting second. His highest individual score is 52, achieved twice, once each in both innings. Afridi has scored a total of 181 runs, with one half-century to his name.
He has shown versatility with the ball, taking a total of 88 wickets across innings, with 43 wickets in the first innings and 45 in the second. On average, he claims around 1.4 wickets per innings and per match. Afridi’s bowling statistics indicate that he typically bowls around 3.4 overs per match, maintaining a consistent wicket-taking ability throughout.
In terms of boundary hitting, Afridi has hit an average of 5.6 boundaries per match, with a higher ratio of fours (11.3) than sixes (11.3), showcasing his proficiency in finding the gaps and rotating strike. Additionally, he has been involved in fielding actions, with a fielding percentage of around 30% and a catch percentage of approximately 25%.
Overall, Shaheen Shah Afridi’s statistics highlight his significant contributions as both a bowler and a lower-order batsman in the PSL.
| Innings | Both | 1st | 2nd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 62 | 33 | 29 |
| Highest Score | 52 | 44 | 52 |
| Runs | 181 | 101 | 80 |
| 50s | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 100s | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Run Per Inn | 6.4 | 6.7 | 6.1 |
| Run Per Match | 2.9 | 3.0 | 2.7 |
| Boundary (In Ball) | 5.6 | 5.3 | 6.0 |
| 4s (In Ball) | 11.3 | 9.3 | 14.6 |
| 6s (In Ball) | 11.3 | 12.5 | 10.4 |
| Wickets | 88 | 43 | 45 |
| Over Per Match | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.3 |
| Wicket Per Inn | 1.4 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| Wicket Per Match | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| Wicket (In Ball) | 15.7 | 15.6 | 15.8 |
| Wicket (In Runs) | 20.6 | 20.6 | 20.6 |
| Field In Match % | 30 % | 31 % | 30 % |
| Catch In Match % | 25 % | 27 % | 24 % |
Shaheen Afridi Domestic & PSL Career
In December 2016, Afridi was selected for the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team for the 2016 Under-19 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. He made an impressive start by taking 3 wickets for 27 runs in Pakistan’s victory over Singapore.
Moving forward, in early September 2017, Afridi signed a two-year contract with the Dhaka Dynamites, a prominent Bangladesh Premier League franchise. He then debuted in first-class cricket for Khan Research Laboratories in the 2017–18 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he made history by taking 8 wickets for 39 runs in the second innings, setting a record for the best figures by a Pakistani bowler on debut.
Afridi’s talent earned him a spot in Pakistan’s squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where he emerged as the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan with 12 wickets. The International Cricket Council (ICC) recognized his potential by naming him the rising star of the squad.
His T20 debut for Lahore Qalandars in the 2018 Pakistan Super League was remarkable, highlighted by a memorable performance against the Multan Sultans, where he claimed five wickets for just four runs and was awarded the player of the match.
Afridi’s journey continued as he represented Baluchistan in the 2018 Pakistan Cup, making his List A debut. He was also slated to play for the Rotterdam Rhinos in the Euro T20 Slam in July 2019, but the tournament was later canceled.
In December 2019, Afridi’s overseas stint took him to Hampshire County Cricket Club for the 2020 T20 Blast in England. His standout moment came on September 20, 2020, during the T20 Blast group stage, where he took a hat-trick and four wickets in four balls, finishing with match figures of 6/19, setting the record for the best bowling figures at the Rose Bowl in T20 cricket.
On October 2, 2020, during the 2020–21 National T20 Cup, Afridi showcased his bowling prowess by securing his second five-wicket haul in three T20 games, recording figures of 5/20 from his four overs. Just three days later, he repeated this feat with another five-wicket haul, claiming figures of 5/21 in the match against Sindh.
Also read: Babar Azam PSL Records & Stats: Total Matches, Runs, Average, Strike Rate, Centuries and More
In October 2021, Afridi signed a contract with Middlesex to participate in domestic matches in England until July 2022. However, he cut short his stint and returned to Pakistan in mid-May to prepare for the national team’s home series against the West Indies.
In December 2021, Afridi was appointed as the captain of the Lahore Qalandars. Under his leadership, the Qalandars clinched the 2022 PSL title, making him the youngest captain to win a T20 league. Additionally, he concluded the tournament as the leading wicket-taker.
