Boom Boom Afridi; 300th cap for the master blaster
“Of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, it can safely be said that cricket never has and never will see another like him. To say he is an all-rounder is to say Albert Einstein was a scientist; it tells a criminally bare story,” writes one sport enthusiast about the credentials
of this master blaster who rose to fame after scoring the fastest century cricket has ever seen in one’s maiden international innings, with his smashathon, bringing up three figures in only 37 deliveries.
Shahid Afridi is a phenomenon in his own right. His presence on the field is charismatic, his bowling is outstanding having taken almost 300 wickets in ODI’s, this fine young custodian of cricket has surely delighted the cricketing fans who wait in anticipation
till he makes his appearance on the pitch with his massive bat. His explosiveness with the bat is not his only calling, for Afridi is a skilled leg spinner as well. However, not one of the most orthodox of bowlers, the world of cricket will see.
His mad cap batting will always be a crowd puller the world over. A compulsive basher of the ball, with his unending thirst to hit every ball he faces out of the ground. Often this result in the crowd witnessing a spectacular display of cricket, his style
is raw and unrefined, however, on his day he certainly is a juggernaut against quality sides and a match winner for Pakistan. His career strike rates are un-matched, but his consistency has been often in question.
His rivals are well aware of the amount of potential that this man promises and look to get him out, as soon as possible for letting him stay on the crease would be akin to issuing a death warrant to themselves.
Some of his records include hitting the second most expensive over in ODI history when he struck four consecutive sixes against the bowler Malinga Bandara. He is also only the third player in ODI history to achieve the combination of 5000 runs and 200 wickets,
the other players being Sanath Jayasuriya and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis.
On 21st June 2010, during the fifth match of the Asia Cup against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758. In the same match, he hit
his sixth ODI century. In test cricket, he holds the joint record with Brian Lara for the third fastest ODI century that came off in 45 balls in April 2005 with Ravi Shastri giving him the nickname of Boom Boom Afridi.
Aside from that, he holds the record for four of the top eight fastest ODI half centuries, twice completed in 18 balls and twice in 20 balls. He has also infamously scored a century off just 21 balls. However, his tenure with the Pakistan cricket team has
not completely been free of controversies, after he chewed a cricketing ball in front of high definition cameras. Afridi, later, pleaded guilty and was fined Rs.3 million for his conduct.
But, that particular conduct did not exclude him from being one of the contenders as the captain of the trouble ridden Pakistan side and in 2010; he was announced so. Belonging to the federally administered Tribal Areas of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, he is also known for
having his bouts of anger at times, and once, he was seen on camera thrusting his bat at a spectator who reportedly swore at him.
His antics on and off the field have also earned him the grace of being likened often to the mighty Chuck Norris. All his credentials have made him an absolutely delightful player to watch, and well, he does have his moments of brilliance as well.
Rumor has it, that “Shahid Afridi doesn't wear a crotch guard because he's made of steel down there. A fast bowler once struck him in the "sensitive area". The ball went ping and soared out of the ground for six.”
This my friends, is the phenomenon we call Shahid Afridi.
(The above is writer’s own independent opinion)
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