Shaheen Afridi Achieves a Historic 100-Wicket Milestone in All Formats
Shaheen Afridi has established himself as the youngest player to ever accumulate 100 wickets in each of the three international formats—Test, ODI, and T20I—thereby solidifying his place in cricket annals. With this remarkable accomplishment, he becomes only the fourth player in history to achieve this milestone, joining an elite company of cricketers who have dominated the international scene across all formats. The left-arm fast bowler achieved this remarkable feat during Pakistan’s series opener against South Africa. He claimed three wickets, including his 100th T20I wicket, and became the youngest cricketer to complete the all-format treble.
Shaheen Afridi’s Significant Achievement in the Twenty20 International Series
In the series opener, South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first. However, Shaheen Afridi promptly applied pressure to their innings. In the initial over, he achieved an early breakthrough by dismissing Rassie van der Dussen. Nqabayomzi Peter was added to Afridi’s tally in the 16th over, signifying his 100th wicket in T20 international cricket, as he continued his exceptional performance. This achievement elevated Shaheen Afridi to the status of the youngest cricketer to achieve this distinguished milestone in all formats. He has now joined an exclusive group that includes Tim Southee of New Zealand, Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh, and Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka. However, he accomplished this milestone in a mere 24 years and 248 days, making him the quickest to do so in terms of the number of matches played.
Shaheen Afridi Joins an Elite Organization
Prior to Shaheen Afridi, only three players had attained 100 wickets in each format: Lasith Malinga, Shakib Al Hasan, and Tim Southee. In 2019, Malinga was the first to accomplish this feat, and Shakib and Southee followed suit in 2021. Nevertheless, Shaheen Afridi has surpassed them in terms of speed and maturity, achieving the 100-wicket treble in a mere 161 matches. Malinga, Shakib, and Southee had all required more than 300 matches to achieve this milestone. However, Shaheen’s capacity to participate in a significant number of T20Is at the outset of his career expedited his progress toward this milestone. This remarkable achievement further cements Shaheen Afridi’s status as one of the most promising players in the world of cricket.
Shaheen Afridi’s rapid ascent to the summit is a testament to his fitness, consistency, and skill. His success across all formats establishes a high standard for the upcoming generation of fast bowlers. Cricket enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly anticipating his subsequent accomplishments as he continues to dominate the international cricket scene.
