Shaheen Afridi: Pakistan's Express Left-Arm Wicket-Taker

Shaheen Shah Afridi, born April 6, 2000, is Pakistan's best bowler and one of the most dangerous pace bowlers in international cricket. A left-arm fast bowler from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, he bowls at genuine pace — consistently 145-150 km/h — with the ability to swing the ball both ways under the right conditions. He has been ranked number one in the ICC Test bowling rankings and has been instrumental in Pakistan's bowling performances across all three formats.

The Dangerous New Ball

Shaheen's primary weapon is with the new ball in the first ten overs of a Test match or the powerplay of white-ball cricket. His height (6'6") gives him extra bounce from good-length deliveries, and his left-arm angle creates problems for right-handed batters who must cover both the inswing (which comes into them) and the ball that shapes away off the seam. His ability to swing the new ball at 145 km/h+ while bowling at good length — rather than at full pace but inaccurately wide — is what makes him exceptional.

Injury and Return

Like Jofra Archer, Shaheen's career has been interrupted by injury — a knee ligament injury in 2022 kept him out of cricket for several months including the Asia Cup and part of the T20 World Cup. His return to cricket after the knee injury was managed cautiously, with Pakistan careful not to rush him back at the expense of long-term fitness. His returns to form post-injury have shown his ability to bowl at full pace remains intact.

Lahore Qalandars — PSL

Shaheen is a flagship player for Lahore Qalandars in the PSL — the franchise that has won multiple PSL titles and represents one of Pakistan's cricket heartlands. He is the Qalandars' most prominent player and an important figure in making Qalandars one of the PSL's powerhouse franchises. His left-arm pace in T20 cricket — particularly in the powerplay when the field is up and batters want to attack — is a premium asset.