Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi: “In 2015, my brother told me to go for the trials. I thought, who’s going to select me? I got selected after just two balls in the trial”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has revealed that it took him only two balls to earn selection during a trial in 2015.
He mentioned that after impressing at the trial, his first-class cricket journey began, and he also participated in a camp organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Afridi has since risen to become Pakistan’s ODI captain and the team’s pace spearhead across all three formats.
“We are seven brothers, and I’ve seen my brother Riaz Afridi play international cricket. In 2015, my brother told me to go for the trials. I thought, who’s going to select me? I got selected after just two balls in the trial, after which I was included in first-class cricket and the PCB camp,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Afridi recently played in the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he took eight wickets in five matches at an average of 22.37 and an economy rate of 10.52.
He then captained Pakistan in their three-match ODI series against Bangladesh and snapped up four wickets at an average of 28.
Currently, the 25-year-old is leading the Lahore Qalandars in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has claimed six wickets in three matches at an average of 13 and an economy rate of 7.09.
Lahore Qalandars Squad for PSL 11: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza, Mohammad Naeem, Mustafizur Rahman, Asif Ali, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Fakhar Zaman, Ubaid Shah, Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Farooq, Daniel Sams, Parvez Hossain Emon, Hussain Talat, Tayyab Tahir, Dunith Wellalage, Rubin Hermann, Maaz Khan, Shahab Khan, Gudakesh Motie
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