Srinagar: Pakistan premier pacer Shaheen Afridi has set Pakistan record with five wicket haul against Australia in the World Cup 2023.
Shaheen Shah Afridi stood out from the rest of the Pakistan bowlers on a day when the Australia posted a mammoth total of 367 for 9 in 50 overs in Bengaluru.
Babar Azam won the toss and opted to bowl on Friday at the batter-friendly M Chinnaswamy Stadium following which their fielders and bowlers did not back it up.
It all went downhill from the moment leg-spinner Usama Mir put down David Warner on 10, leading to frustration from Shaheen Afridi, the bowler.
On a day when Haris Rauf conceded at over 10 runs an over and Hasan Ali at 7, Shaheen stood out, picking up 5 wickets and conceding just 54 in his 10-over quota.
Shaheen Shah Afridi scripted a new Pakistan record as he became the first pacer from the country to pick up more than one 5-wicket haul in a World Cup fixture. Shaheen had picked up 6 for 35 against Bangladesh at Lord’s in 2019.
Shaheen Afridi is also only second bowler from Pakistan to pick two five wicket hauls in World Cup competitions. The other being Shahid Afridi.
PAKISTAN PACERS WITH WORLD CUP FIFERS
Wasim Akram – 5 for 28 against Namibia in 2003
Wahab Riaz – 5 for 46 against India in 2001
Sohail Khan – 5 for 55 against India in 2015
Mohammad Amir – 5 for 30 against Australia in 2019
Shaheen Afridi – 6 for 35 against Bangladesh in 2019
Shaheen Afridi – 5 for 54 against Australia in 2023