FAISALABAD, November 5: Pakistan’s new ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi began his tenure with a victory but remained humble about the achievement, calling his debut as skipper “nothing special.”
The 25-year-old fast bowler, who recently replaced Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain, led Pakistan to a tense two-wicket win over South Africa at the Iqbal Stadium on Tuesday — marking the return of international cricket to Faisalabad after 17 years.
“I think it’s a normal game for me — nothing special,” Shaheen said during the post-match presentation. “Whatever the situation, just do your best and nothing more.”
Pakistan Survive a Thriller to Seal Victory
Batting first, South Africa got off to a solid start as Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Quinton de Kock combined for a 98-run opening stand. However, Pakistan’s bowlers staged a strong comeback, dismissing the visitors for 263 in 49.1 overs.
In reply, Pakistan’s chase wasn’t smooth sailing. The home side lost early wickets before Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan stabilized the innings with a crucial 91-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Both batters registered half-centuries on a tricky surface, guiding Pakistan home with just two balls to spare and two wickets remaining.
Shaheen Credits Batters for Handling Pressure
Reflecting on the performance, Shaheen admitted that the team’s expectations about the playing conditions didn’t go as planned.
“We thought we’d get some help early on with the ball, and there would be dew in the second innings, but it totally changed,” he said. “Credit to our batsmen — they handled it really well. We need experienced batting like this on tough surfaces.”
The skipper emphasized the importance of experienced players stepping up in challenging moments, especially when the pitch offers little assistance.
“We’ll Try to Avoid Nail-Biters” — Shaheen
Known for his composed leadership, Shaheen also acknowledged Pakistan’s growing tendency to find themselves in close finishes.
“That [nail-biters] always happens, but we’ll try to make it not happen again,” he quipped, before thanking fans for their overwhelming support.
Shaheen concluded by praising the Faisalabad crowd for turning up in large numbers, celebrating the city’s long-awaited return to hosting international cricket.
“Thanks to the Faisalabad crowd — cricket here after a long time. Thank you for coming out in big numbers,” he said.
