The celebrated Pakistan pacer, Shaheen Afridi, is on the doorstep of breaking a significant record while gearing up with the team for the first ODI against South Africa tomorrow at Boland Park, Paarl.
The eagerly awaited team-up on Tuesday is the opener of a three-match series for Pakistan, captained by Mohammad Rizwan, to bounce back from a complete washout in T20Is.
Also Read: Nation remembers APS Attack 10th Anniversary, Pledge to Fight Terrorism
Most Wickets Against South Africa for Pakistan
| Bowler | Innings | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Waqar Younis | 43 | 82 |
| Saeed Ajmal | 36 | 65 |
| Wasim Akram | 31 | 48 |
| Shoaib Akhtar | 26 | 46 |
| Shaheen Afridi | 25 | 45 |
Shaheen Afridi is just four short of breaking the record for the third most wickets for Pakistan against South Africa, an addition that will put him ahead of the legendary Wasim Akram; only two more will see him cross Shoaib Akhtar. His efficiency is unparalleled, as it would take him fewer matches to go past Akram, thereby including him in the erstwhile coterie of elite Pakistani bowlers.
In spite of their potential, Shaheen performed erratically in his last T20I series, picking up three wickets in two matches. But there is no question of him being a match-winner in ODIs, and thus Pakistan will look at him to perform some fine classical swing bowling effects in Paarl.