Shan Masood: “He’s put in the effort and bowled extraordinarily well. He’s shown why he’s in the world’s best fast bowlers”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood said left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi is showing why he’s one of the “world’s best fast bowlers” with his recent performances.
Afridi, who is Pakistan’s ODI captain, has enjoyed a great run of form lately as he has been notching up plenty of wickets.
During the 2025 Asia Cup, the 25-year-old finished as Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker with 10 victims in seven matches at an average of 16.40 and an economy rate of 6.60.
He then played in the two-Test series against South Africa and claimed five wickets at an average of 28.60.
Next up was a three-match T20I series, where he picked up four wickets in two games at an average of 17.75 and an economy rate of 8.87.
As for the three ODIs, he ended up with three wickets at an average of 38.
Afridi then captained Pakistan in a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka and took one wicket in two games at an average of 86.
He fared a lot better in the T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, snapping up four wickets in two matches at an average of 13 and an economy rate of 7.42.
“He’s put in the effort and bowled extraordinarily well. He’s shown why he’s in the world’s best fast bowlers,” Masood was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Afridi is now involved in the Big Bash League (BBL), where he is representing the Brisbane Heat and has gone wicketless so far.