Ignore Shahid Afridi at your peril. The 30-year-old Pakistan captain is widely regarded as one of the most destructive batsmen in limited overs cricket. Coupled with his wicket-taking ability as a leg-spinner, he is a one-man demolition squad. But the added responsibility of being captain could be make-or-break for Afridi. His dashing style has made him one of the most popular players among millions of fans, many of whom leave the ground once he gets out.
Afridi’s hitting knows no bounds. In only his second One-day match, he smashed a strong Sri Lanka attack for a 37-ball century in Kenya in 1996 – still a world record. Afridi also holds the record for hitting most sixes (288) in One-day internationals, three of the six fastest One-day hundreds and two of the three fastest limited overs fifties. With his uncanny leg-spin and brilliant fielding, Afridi is a complete cricketer who is a role model for fellow players. Former captain Imran Khan believes Afridi is the only man who can lift and unite the talented but unpredictable Pakistanis.
