Shaheen Afridi | Cricket Outlook

Joe Root poised to make WTC History; Afridi and Woakes near milestones

Aditya Bhagchandani — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 21:01:26 +0000

The upcoming Test series between Pakistan and England holds significant importance in the World Test Championship (WTC) as players from both sides inch closer to major personal achievements. England is aiming to stay in contention for the WTC points race, and although their qualification chances are slim, individual records are on the line.

Joe Root on the Verge of 5,000 WTC Runs

Joe Root stands on the brink of creating history by becoming the first and only batter to score 5,000 runs in WTC history. With 4,973 runs in 106 innings since the 2019 WTC cycle, he is just 27 runs shy of reaching this milestone. Root’s performance puts him significantly ahead of Marnus Labuschagne, who has 3,904 WTC runs.

In addition to this, Root is close to surpassing Alastair Cook as England’s highest Test run-scorer. Root, currently with 12,402 Test runs, requires just 71 more to overtake Cook and enter the top five all-time run-getters in Test cricket. With six Tests remaining in the WTC cycle, Root could also aim for the 13,000-run milestone.

Babar Azam Nears 4,000 Test Runs

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam is also on the brink of a personal achievement, needing only 38 more runs to reach 4,000 in Test cricket. His batting will be crucial for Pakistan as they face off against England in the series.

Bowlers Closing in on 100 WTC Wickets

Among the bowlers, Shaheen Afridi, Chris Woakes, and Jack Leach are all nearing the 100 wickets mark in the WTC. Afridi needs seven wickets, Woakes requires nine, and Leach is 10 away from the milestone. Leach makes his return to the England squad after a standout performance for Somerset in the County Championship.

Series Updates and Squad Changes

The series will be without England’s star all-rounder and captain, Ben Stokes, who has yet to recover fully from his hamstring injury. This leaves a gap in England’s lineup, but the focus will remain on the form and milestones of players like Root, Afridi, Woakes, and Leach. Both teams aim to finish their WTC campaigns on a high, even if the possibility of reaching the final is slim.

Was Babar Azam behind Shaheen Afridi’s removal as Pakistan’s T20 captain?

Aditya Bhagchandani — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 08:25:17 +0000

A controversy has erupted in Pakistan cricket, with allegations surfacing that Babar Azam was aware of his appointment as the T20I captain well before it was officially announced, despite assurances to Shaheen Afridi that he had no intentions of taking over the role. Babar replaced Shaheen as skipper just before the T20 World Cup, following Afridi’s brief tenure as captain in only one series.

A journalist from Saamna TV claimed that during a training camp at the Army base in Kakul, Babar and Shaheen had a conversation where Babar supposedly reassured the fast bowler that he had no ambitions of becoming the captain. However, the journalist alleged that Babar already knew he would be named as the next skipper. A member of the team management reportedly kept Shaheen in the dark about these developments.

While the journalist initially made strong accusations against Babar, he later backtracked, suggesting that Babar might not have been fully aware of the behind-the-scenes decisions regarding the captaincy change.

This controversy comes as Pakistan grapples with the fallout from their disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, where they were knocked out in the group stage, including a shocking loss to the USA. Several former players have voiced their support for Shaheen, criticizing his removal as unjust, while coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie have urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to avoid making sudden captaincy changes.

The ongoing debate raises questions about leadership within the team, with Pakistan cricket once again finding itself in the midst of a captaincy crisis.

Shaheen Afridi dismisses Babar Azam in Champions One-Day Cup

Aditya Bhagchandani — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 06:51:44 +0000

The ODI Champions Cup continues to entertain cricket fans as Pakistan’s top players face off against each other. One of the most anticipated moments of the tournament came when Shaheen Afridi, captain of the Lions, dismissed Babar Azam in their latest match in Faisalabad. Afridi’s short delivery forced Babar, playing for the Stallions, to hit the ball straight to deep square leg where Faisal Akram caught it.

This dismissal added another chapter to the ongoing rivalry between the two stars. Babar, known for his skill and class, has often found himself struggling against Afridi’s fierce bowling. In T20 matches, Babar has a strike rate of 133 when facing Afridi, but he has been dismissed by him four times.

Despite losing Babar, the Stallions posted an impressive total of 336/5, thanks to Babar’s solid contribution of 76 runs from 79 balls. His innings was a much-needed return to form after a challenging year where he struggled to maintain his usual high standards.

The Lions, led by Afridi, were unable to chase down the target, getting bowled out for 203, with Haris Rauf taking three wickets for the Stallions. The ODI Champions Cup continues to bring out thrilling performances as fans eagerly watch their favorite players compete head-to-head.