Shahid Afridi, also known as Boom Boom Afridi, is a Pakistani cricketer and former captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. Afridi is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport, known for his explosive batting, clever spin bowling, and electrifying fielding. Afridi burst onto the international cricket scene as a teenager in 1996, making his debut for Pakistan in a One Day International (ODI) match against Kenya. In just his second ODI, Afridi made history by smashing the then-fastest century in ODI cricket, off just 37 balls, a record that stood for more than 17 years until it was broken in 2014.
Shahid Afridi
Personal Information
| Born : | May 1, 1980 |
| Birth Place : | Khyber Agency , Peshawar |
| Height : | 5 ft 11 in |
| Role : | Allrounder |
| Batting Style : | Right Handed Bat |
| Bowling Style : | Right-arm legbreak |
Throughout his career, Afridi was known for his aggressive and attacking style of play. With the bat, he was capable of hitting the ball out of the park with ease, and he holds the record for hitting the most sixes in ODI cricket. With the ball, Afridi was a handy leg-spinner, known for his variety and ability to deceive batsmen with his variations. He was also an exceptional fielder, known for his acrobatic catches and diving saves.
Afridi played for Pakistan in over 500 international matches, including 27 Tests, 398 ODIs, and 99 T20Is. He scored more than 11,000 runs and took more than 540 wickets across all formats of the game. He was a key member of the Pakistan team that won the ICC World T20 in 2009, and he also played in three ICC Cricket World Cups.
Off the field, Afridi is known for his philanthropic work. He established the Shahid Afridi Foundation, which works to provide healthcare, education, and clean water to underprivileged communities in Pakistan. Afridi has also been involved in various other charitable activities, including donating his bat to raise funds for the victims of the 2010 Pakistan floods.
Despite his many achievements, Afridi’s career was not without controversy. He was often criticized for his inconsistent performances, and he was involved in several on-field altercations with opposition players. He also retired from international cricket on multiple occasions, only to come out of retirement later.
Shahid Afridi Cricket Career :
Batting Records & stats
| Format | M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 200 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 27 | 48 | 1 | 1716 | 156 | 36.51 | 1973 | 86.97 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 220 | 52 |
| ODI | 398 | 369 | 27 | 8064 | 124 | 23.58 | 6892 | 117.01 | 6 | 0 | 39 | 729 | 351 |
| T20I | 99 | 91 | 12 | 1416 | 54 | 17.92 | 944 | 150.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 103 | 73 |
| IPL | 10 | 9 | 1 | 81 | 33 | 10.12 | 46 | 176.09 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
Bowling Records & stats
| Format | M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 27 | 47 | 3194 | 1709 | 48 | 5/52 | 5/43 | 3.21 | 35.6 | 66.54 | 1 | 0 |
| ODI | 398 | 372 | 17670 | 13631 | 395 | 7/12 | 7/12 | 4.63 | 34.51 | 44.73 | 9 | 0 |
| T20I | 99 | 97 | 2168 | 2396 | 98 | 4/11 | 4/11 | 6.63 | 24.45 | 22.12 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL | 10 | 10 | 180 | 225 | 9 | 3/28 | 3/28 | 7.5 | 25.0 | 20.0 | 0 | 0 |
Why is Shahid Afridi called The Boom Boom Afridi ?
Shahid Afridi is known as “Boom Boom Afridi” because of his explosive style of play, particularly his aggressive and powerful batting. Afridi’s ability to hit the ball out of the park with ease and at a quick pace earned him this nickname, which was given to him early in his career.
Afridi’s attacking style of play was evident from the very beginning of his international career. In just his second One Day International (ODI) match, he scored the then-fastest century in ODI cricket history, off just 37 balls, which included 11 sixes. This innings showcased Afridi’s aggressive approach to batting, and he continued to play in a similar vein throughout his career.
Over the years, Afridi became known for his big-hitting ability, and he holds the record for hitting the most sixes in ODI cricket. His explosive batting was also a key factor in Pakistan’s victory in the 2009 ICC World T20, where he played a match-winning knock in the final.
Given his reputation as a hard-hitting batsman, it was only natural for Afridi to be given a nickname that reflected his style of play. And so, “Boom Boom Afridi” was born, a moniker that has stuck with him throughout his career and has become synonymous with his aggressive approach to the game.