Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi: “Early on, as a team, we need breakthroughs and I go for that”

Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said he always seeks out early wickets as he knows it will benefit his team and put the opposition under pressure.

Afridi has developed a reputation as being one of the best new-ball fast bowlers in the world as he often strikes in the first over of matches.

The 25-year-old is determined to maintain that trend moving forward, striving to have an impact on his team as often as he can.

“Early on, as a team, we need breakthroughs and I go for that,” Afridi was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Afridi is currently involved in Pakistan’s home series against South Africa and kicked things off with five wickets in two Tests at an average of 28.60.

He then featured in the three-match T20I series, taking four wickets in two games at an average of 17.75 and an economy rate of 8.87.

As for the ongoing ODI series, he picked up one wicket in the 1st ODI.

Following the South Africa series, Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15, and then participate in a T20I tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe between November 17 and 29.

Pakistan squad for South Africa ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha

Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha

Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq

Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem

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