#PakvBan Highlights — Afridi rescues Pakistan again

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Tuesday, 4 March 2014

DHAKA: Shahid Afridi smashed the second fastest one-day half-century to give Pakistan a three wicket win over Bangladesh on Tuesday and a place in the Asia Cup final.

Afridi, who went into bat with Pakistan needing 101 off 52 balls, smashed paceman Shafiul Islam for a four to reach fifty off just 18 balls, one short of one-day cricket's fastest-ever half-century record held by Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya, made against Pakistan in Singapore in 1996.

He equalled his own record of second fastest one-day fifty, set twice by him. He scored an 18-ball fifty during his 37-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996 and another 18-ball fifty against the Netherlands at Colombo in 2002. In all, Afridi took seven sixes and two boundaries off just 25 balls.



Published in the XReports.net, on March 5th, 2014

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History repeats itself — Afridi, the new Miandad

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Sunday, 2 March 2014

Similarity between Miandad’s famous six and Afridi’s performance against India.

Approximately 30 years ago, on 18 April, 1986, Miandad provided Pakistanis one of their most cherishable moments in the history of cricket; a last ball six in a nail-biting thriller against India in Sharjah. The history repeated itself with Shahid Afridi where he finished the match with two consecutive sixes to lead Pakistan to a much awaited win over India.

Both the players hail from Karachi and they are regarded as one of the finest cricketers of Pakistan.

The juxtaposition:

18th April, 1986 — India decided to bat first and set the target of 246 for Pakistani team. In the last over, Tauseef Ahmed takes a single and Miandad clinched the inning with a memorable six.
Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65816.html

2nd March, 2014 — India decided to bat first and set the target of 246 for green shirts. In the last death over, Junaid Khan takes a single and Afridi secured the inning with two consecutive sixes.

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia-cup-2014/engine/match/710301.html

Post by X-Reports.

Published in the XReports.net, on March 3rd, 2014

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Pakistani cricket fans outrage against Afridi

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Wednesday, 5 September 2012

05-09-2012 | Pakistan Today
ISLAMABAD - Star all-rounder of Pakistan cricket team, Shahid Afridi has failed to perform well in the one-day series against Australia and consequently, cricket lovers have demanded his retirement from international cricket.

The Pakistani game-lovers have proposed ‘modelling’ as an ideal alternate profession for Shahid Afridi, once pronounced ‘Boom Boom’ by his fans.

According to details, Afridi was expected to perform well in the recently held series against Australian cricket team, however, he got out for a duck while batting in the first one-day match and in the second, he was able to score only seven runs.

Not only this, but in the 20 overs he bowled in two matches, he conceded 99 runs and could bowl out only a single Australian batsman.

Sources said the bowling of Shahid Afridi, known for variety in spin bowling could not trouble his opponents and even in the third and decisive match of the series, he conceded 62 runs without taking a wicket.

His fielding performance was no different and in the third match of the series he dropped a catch, which could have been a turning point in the game. Moreover, in the last seven one-day matches, Afridi could score only 35 runs, sources said.

Sources further said Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, Chaudhary Zaka Ashraf decided to select Shahid Khan Afridi in the team on political pressure and the selection committee endorsed the decision.

According to analysts, good decisions are made not under pressure but through impartial selection.

The selection of the ‘ favorites’ in the Pakistani team has mounted pressure on the players on the whole, they added.

On the other hand, the spectators have demanded that Afridi should be ousted from the Pakistani team by accusing him of ‘lobbying’.

Should Afridi retire from international cricket

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