World Cup 2015: A tribute to Boom Boom Shahid Afridi, one of the most exciting cricketers on planet

World Cup 2015: A tribute to Boom Boom Shahid Afridi, one of the most exciting cricketers on planet: Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi debuted in October 1996 in Singer Cup as a replacement for injured Mushtaq Ahmed at the age of 16. After not getting to bat against Kenya in his first match, he batted at no.3 in the next match against Sri Lanka and made himself immortal forever in the world of cricket.

He hit a century in just 37 balls with 11 sixes to his name. He broke the world record of fastest century at that time and equaled the record for most sixes in an ODI innings. He also became the youngest batsman to make an ODI century. Such was the beginning that Afridi got to his international career. He made his Test debut in 1998 against Australia and took 5 wickets in an innings on debut.

Afridi considered himself more of a bowler than a batsman, but found most of his fame because of his batting and his ability to score runs at a high rate evident from his career strike rate of 117 in ODIs and 145 in T20Is. Afridi also captained Pakistan first in T20 in 2007 and then in 2010 in ODIs after he retired from Test cricket. One of the most exciting batsmen, famous as Boom Boom for his big hitting Afridi has a fan following that rivals most of the cricketers of the World.

Batting averages

Bowling averages

Despite his talent and abilities, he had an unfulfilled Test career playing only 27 Tests scoring 1716 runs with 5 centuries and highest score of 156. He retired from the format in 2006, coming back for a single Test in 2010 and then saying good-bye to Tests for good. But the format of T20 proved to be his major strengths. He was the Man of the tournament in the inaugural World T20 in 2007 and won the trophy for Pakistan in 2009 with performances from both bat and ball, making 50s in both semi-finals and finals. He also plays for T20 leagues all around the World and is one of the most sought after players in the format.

Afridi led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup, losing to India in the match. Controversies were also a part of his career. He courted fines for intentionally damaging the pitch against England in a Test, when he walked in the middle of the pitch dragging his spikes along the surface of the pitch. Then he against courted a one match ban, for biting the seam of the ball, trying to rip the seam apart. He also clashed with the Pakistan Board on numerous occasions and retired a couple of times in protest. His trademark shot is a cross-batted flick to the leg-side to a ball outside off stump. However, his aggressive style increases his risk of getting out and he is one of the most inconsistent batsmen in cricket. This is reflected by the fact that he is the only player to score more than 8,000 ODI runs at an average under 25. He is only the second player after Sanath Jayasuriya to score 8000 runs and take 300 wickets in ODI cricket, he also holds the world record for hitting the most sixes in ODIs, 351.

Shahid Afridi’s World Cup record is also not very impressive with no fifties to his name. but he did take 21 wickets in the 2011 edition, tied with Zaheer Khan for the most wickets in the tournament.

Shahid Afridi is also the only player to make 1000 runs and take 50 wickets in T20Is. He was a player who could have done better as a batsman if he had applied himself a bit more, but he did his best without compromising with his style, which brought him so much fame and applause. Though we will all miss expecting him to score another fast century and then get out after hitting a six or two, or watch him bowl those fast leg spinners bordering on medium pace bowling and standing in his trademark pose after taking a wicket.

Afridi announced he will continue playing the T20Is with his eyes set on the World T20 in 2016 in India.

Records and Highlights of Shahid Afridi’s ODI career:

# Hit a hundred in just 37 balls in his second match, breaking the then record of 48 balls. Held the record for fastest hundred in ODIs for 18 years.

#Also equaled the then record of 11 sixes in an ODI innings.

#Has the record for most sixes in ODIs,351.

#Is the only second player after Sanath Jayasuriya to hit 8,000 runs and take 300 wickets in ODIs.

#Has 4 scores of 50 plus in less than 20 balls in ODIs.

# Has the record for 4th highest runs scored in an over in ODI – 32.

# Is the record holder for youngest batsman to hit a ODI hundred.