Abbas Afridi: “Before the PSL, Umar Gul took me for practice sessions where we worked on power-hitting, and it helped me a lot”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan seamer Abbas Afridi has revealed that former pacer Umar Gul helped him with his power-hitting prior to the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Gul is Afridi’s uncle and has played a role in the 24-year-old’s rise to becoming a reliable wicket-taker and handy lower order batsman.
During PSL 10, Afridi was the joint second-highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets in 11 matches for the Karachi Kings at an average of 23.52 and an economy rate of 10.25.
He also scored 72 runs at an average of 14.40 and a strike-rate of 175.60.
“Before the PSL, Umar Gul took me for practice sessions where we worked on power-hitting, and it helped me a lot,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Following PSL 10, Afridi took part in Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh and claimed two wickets in one game at an average of 13 and an economy rate of 6.50.
He didn’t get to bat at all in the series, which the men in green won 3-0.
Abbas then toured Bangladesh with Pakistan and picked up three wickets in three T20Is at an average of 17.66 and an economy rate of 8.83.
Batting-wise, he amassed 42 runs at an average of 21 and a strike-rate of 105.
Despite his contributions, Pakistan lost the series 2-1.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a white-ball tour of the West Indies, where they will play three T20Is and three ODIs from August 1 to 12.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan Squad for West Indies ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem