Pakistan cricket team pacer Shaheen Afridi has reclaimed his spot as number one ranked ODI bowler following the series victory against Australia. Mohammad Rizwan and co. clinched a 2-1 victory against the hosts in Down Under, creating history. The series against Australia, where Shaheen Afridi was recalled to the team, was the first ODI series that the team played since the end of the ODI World Cup in 2023.
Shaheen Afridi becomes number 1 ODI bowler
After being dropped midway through the PAK vs ENG Test series at home, Shaheen Afridi was recalled to the squad for the ODIs against Australia. The pacer managed to pick up eight wickets across three games, averaging 12.62. His performance in Down Under saw him jump three places to the first rank as he replaced South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj. Afridi was last the number one ranked ODI bowler midway through the ODI World Cup in 2023.
Latest news
Shaheen Afridi was amongst Pakistan’s most economical bowler in the PAK vs AUS ODI series. In the first game, he finished with a spell of 2/43. He followed it up with two consecutive three-wicket hauls in the remainder of the games, registering figures of 3/26 and 3/32 respectively.
Shaheen Afridi’s poor run in recent past
Shaheen Afridi has been in poor form ever since the ODI World Cup in 2023. He has been boggled by other issues as well, including injury and captaincy. He was name as Pakistan T20I captain only to be replaced by Babar Azam after just one series, just ahead of the T20 World Cup. His performance in the marquee event was sub-par as well, as Pakistan crashed out in the group stage. It was followed by a miserable Test series at home against Bangladesh. Pakistan will be happy to see Afridi regain his form ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.