Pakistan speedster Shaheen Afridi has stated that his favourite format is Test cricket, adding that the reason for it is his brother’s unfulfilled desire and ambition to play more matches in the format.
Shaheen has quickly emerged as the leader of the pace pack for Pakistan’s Test match bowling attack at the age of just 21. The left-arm quick has taken 86 wickets from his 35 innings at the Test level with an average of 23.89, including 5 five-wicket hauls.
The young gun said his brother – former Pakistan Test cricketer Riaz Afridi – wanted to have a long career in the whites for the national side. Emerging as a bright prospect after the 2004 U19 World Cup, Riaz, however, got to play just once for Pakistan.
His maiden Test outing – against Sri Lanka in Karachi, October 2004 – also proved to be his last international fixture.
“My brother likes Test cricket but he only played one Test and didn’t get the chance to play again, so it became my wish to play maximum Test matches. Any format I play, I look to enjoy and try to execute performances for Pakistan.”
Shaheen told Cricket Pakistan.
Like Shaheen, Riaz was also a fast-bowler. He was a right-arm pacer, who played 76 first-class matches and took a whopping 328 wickets at an average of 24.60. His tally featuring 21 five-wicket hauls makes Riaz one of the veterans of the domestic scene.
Shaheen says it was Riaz who inspired him to take up the art of fast-bowling. His elder brother guided him in his critical growing up days, working on his basics and upskilling him before he played for Pakistan.
“Bhai used to take me by himself in grounds and academies. I used to watch him and took interest in bowling. I had my coach since the start in the shape of my brother. He has guided me a lot. I always talk to him before and after the match where he tells me my mistakes,”
he added.
