Abbas Afridi: “Umar Gul is my uncle and my idol. I started playing cricket by watching him, and I always aim to deliver match-winning performances like him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowler Abbas Afridi said he wants to deliver match-winning performances like former seamer Umar Gul.
Afridi noted that Gul is not only his uncle, but his idol as well.
The 42-year-old had a very successful international career, taking 163 wickets in 47 Tests at an average of 34.06.
He also claimed 179 wickets in 130 ODIs at an average of 29.34.
As for his T20I career, Gul finished with 86 wickets in 60 games at an average of 16.97.
“Umar Gul is my uncle and my idol. I started playing cricket by watching him, and I always aim to deliver match-winning performances like him,” Afridi was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Recently, Afridi represented the Karachi Kings in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and ended up being the joint second-highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 23.52 and an economy rate of 10.25.
He then featured in Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh and took two wickets in one game at an average of 13 and an economy rate of 6.50.
Afridi was then involved in Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh and picked up three wickets in three T20Is at an average of 17.66 and an economy rate of 8.83.
Pakistan’s next assignment was a tour of the West Indies, which comprised three T20Is and three ODIs. However, Afridi was not named in both squads.
Next up for the men in green will be a T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in Sharjah, which will be held from August 29 to September 7.
Following this, Pakistan will take part in the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be played in the UAE from September 9 to 28.
Pakistan squad for UAE T20I tri-series and 2025 Asia Cup: 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, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
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