Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi was at his lethal best in his team’s do-or-die Super Four clash against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. His three crucial wickets were instrumental in keeping Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 hopes alive.
Following the match, a reporter questioned Afridi about the scrutiny he faces whenever Pakistan plays against India. The journalist highlighted his perceived underperformance in recent India-Pakistan matches, provocatively asking if fans could expect a similar display should the two rivals meet in the Asia Cup final. Afridi, with a cheeky smile, retorted, “Are you trying to drop me?” He then passionately declared, “Agar Shaheen Afridi Pakistan se khelega to apni jaan bhi de dega,” which translates to, “If Shaheen Afridi plays for Pakistan, he will give up his life.”
The conversation also touched upon the recent aggressive behavior displayed by Pakistani players, including Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan, during the Asia Cup. Afridi was asked if this was a deliberate team strategy, especially after incidents like Rauf’s alleged mocking of Indian fans and Farhan’s controversial gun-firing celebration. Afridi clarified that there’s “no specific plan to be aggressive,” asserting, “we have always been aggressive, from the time we started playing. This is how cricket is played and the team morale is kept high.”
When pressed about the prospect of an India-Pakistan final, Afridi chose to temper expectations, stating, “We are not in the final yet; when we reach, we will think about it.” Further queried on “what’s been going on” between the two sides, he playfully responded with “Kya chal raha hai?” (What’s going on?). Regarding the specific on-field actions of Rauf and Farhan, Afridi opted for a diplomatic stance, remarking, “Our job is to play cricket; people can think what they want. We are here to win the Asia Cup. We are trying our best to fulfill Pakistan’s hopes.”
Reflecting on Pakistan’s tense 133-run chase against Sri Lanka, Afridi acknowledged the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, admitting that it’s challenging for every player to hit top form simultaneously. He gave “credit to Hussain (Talat) and (Mohammad) Nawaz for handling pressure. T20 is like this only; everyone doesn’t perform at the same time.”
On his personal performance and the perceived struggles of Pakistan’s fast bowlers, Afridi emphasized his unwavering commitment: “My job is to fulfill the role assigned to me, whether it is batting or bowling. It doesn’t matter if I am injured or unwell. My job is to keep team morale high and perform well.” He further elaborated, “It’s not that we are not winning; we have won, but we haven’t won against bigger teams. I don’t think our fast bowlers are struggling. The T20 format is such that batsmen find it easier to hit on good wickets. But we should have more variation in our bowling, and we are striving for that.”
Concluding his remarks, Afridi looked ahead to Pakistan’s upcoming clash against Bangladesh, stressing the importance of a dominant start: “Bangladesh is a good team and has played good cricket of late. We have to punch first against them; we have to play good cricket.”