When you think of Shaheen Afridi, the first image that pops into your head is him steaming in with the new ball, eyes blazing, and uprooting stumps with that deadly late in swing. Fair enough—that’s been his brand for years. But lately, there’s been another side to Afridi that’s stealing the spotlight: the lower-order basher. Yes, the guy who used to be seen as a “bonus 10–15 runs” at the end of an innings is suddenly bashing sixes like a seasoned finisher.
From Flashes of Brilliance to Consistent Firepower
Afridi’s batting wasn’t completely unheard of. The PSL 2023 final gave us a sneak peek when he came in and smashed a whirlwind 44 off just 15 balls to pull off one of the most thrilling finishes in T20 history. But back then, most fans wrote it off as a one-off “Afridi moment” (after all, Pakistan cricket has a history with mercurial Afridis).
Fast forward to the Asia Cup 2025, and those flashes have turned into something far more reliable. Against India, he cracked a career-best 33 off 16 balls, looking every bit like a middle-order hitter rather than a tailender swinging blind. Then, against the UAE, he went full “Shahid Afridi mode” in the death overs—two towering sixes and a four in the 20th over that dragged Pakistan from a modest 125 to a defendable 146. Those runs weren’t just pretty fireworks; they were match-defining.
The Hidden Work Behind the Big Shots
It’s tempting to think Afridi just magically unlocked his inner power-hitter, but the transformation has roots. After his knee injury in 2022, Afridi had a long rehab stint where bowling wasn’t an option. What did he do? He batted. A lot. That downtime, frustrating as it was for fans desperate to see him with the ball, quietly turned him into a more polished hitter.
From PSL 2018 to 2022, he hit just two sixes. In the last three seasons? Twenty-four. That’s not luck—that’s hours of work on timing, shot selection, and situational awareness. Against India, you could see how he picked his spots, waiting for Hardik Pandya’s fuller-length deliveries before unleashing clean, calculated swings. Against the UAE, he showed adaptability—backing away to punish the yorker, then using pure wrist-work to flick a short one over square leg. That’s not slogging; that’s craft.
What This Means for Pakistan Going Forward
Now here’s where things get interesting. Afridi, the bowler, has always been world-class. But Shaheen Afridi as a hitter? That’s a bonus Pakistan has desperately needed. In modern T20 cricket, teams can’t survive with long tails. Every player down to No. 9 or 10 is expected to swing hard and add quick runs. With Afridi stepping into this role, Pakistan suddenly looks far less fragile at the death.
But there’s a catch. The more Afridi succeeds with the bat, the more the expectation grows. And while it’s great to see him bashing sixes, Pakistan must be careful not to overload him. His primary job is still to spearhead the bowling attack, and that’s where he wins matches most consistently.
FAQs
- What sparked Shaheen Afridi’s batting improvement?
A knee injury rehab in 2022 gave him extended time to focus on batting.
- How did Afridi prove his hitting ability in recent matches?
He smashed quickfire knocks against India and the UAE in the Asia Cup 2025.
- Was Afridi always known for power-hitting?
No, his big-hitting has only developed consistently in the last three years.
